SUZY BATCHER PROTON THERAPY; THE NEW STANDARD IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA TREATMENT

PREVIOUS RESEARCH Many different sites Variables purposes

PURPOSE OF PAPER “Proton therapy is nothing new in the radiation field recently; however, it is not the standard treatment choice yet. The studies that have been reviewed all serve the same purpose; to show that proton therapy should be the standard of care for pediatric medulloblastoma patients”

RISK OF SECONDARY MALIGNANCIES Survival rates are increasing in these patients At an attained age of 40 years, the risk of secondary malignancies for proton therapy patients is about five times less than patients that received 3D photon plan. 3

SECONDARY CANCER RISK

LATENT NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS

HORMONE DEFICIENCY The proton therapy plans were able to spare more hypothalamus and have less incidence of hormone deficiency. 10

FUTURE RESEARCH? Further research on the cost effectiveness of proton therapy in comparing incidences of secondary malignancies and management of latent effects would add a strong argument for proton therapy becoming the standard treatment choice for these patients.