ABSTRACT
Ion-beam therapy, also referred to as particle therapy, is a rapidly emerging treatment modality which makes use of the favourable interaction properties of swift ions in matter. In particular, ion beams offer the ability to confine the maximum energy deposition to a narrow region at an adjustable penetration depth – the so-called Bragg peak. This chapter focuses particularly on the three methods of which already have been investigated in the clinical context although at very different levels of maturity. Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET) is so far the method which has been most extensively investigated clinically for verification of proton and carbon ion treatments. Another possibility for treatment verification is the prompt gamma (PG) monitoring. PG rays are emitted after the same type of nuclear fragmentation reactions as for the production of positron emitters.
