Background Ion beam therapy represents a promising approach to treat prostate cancer, mainly due to its high conformity and radiobiological effectiveness. spacer gel. A research treatment planning system for ion therapy was used for treatment plan optimization and calculation of daily dose distributions on 2 to 9 Computed Tomography (CT) studies available for each of the 19 patients. Planning and daily dose distributions were analyzed with respect to target coverage, maximal 90357-06-5 manufacture dose to the rectum (excluding 1?ml of the greatest dose; Dmax-1?ml) and the rectal volume receiving dose greater than 90% of prescribed target dose (V90Rectum), respectively. Results The application of spacer gel did substantially diminish rectum dose. Dmax-1 ml on the treatment planning CT was on average reduced from 100.0 1.0% to 90.2 4.8%, when spacer gel was applied. The robustness evaluation performed with daily CT research demonstrated for everyone analyzed affected person cases that program of spacer gel leads to a loss of the daily V90Rectum index, which computed over-all affected person CT and cases studies was 10.2 10.4 [ml] and 1.1 2.1 [ml] for sufferers without and with spacer gel, respectively. Conclusions The dosimetric advantage of increasing the length between prostate and rectum using spacer gel for Computer treatment with carbon ion beams continues to be quantified. Program of spacer gel decreased rectal contact with high treatment dosage and considerably, therefore, can decrease the risk of rectal toxicity in ion beam therapy of Computer. The outcomes of the research enable modifications of the PC ion therapy protocol such as dose escalation or hypofractionation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13014-015-0348-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. and are labeled patient and are labeled patient (Table?1). The parameters of the CT scans used to obtain the patient data are specified in Table?2. In the presented retrospective analysis the variable number of CT studies between and has its reason in a different purpose of the CT acquisitions. were obtained for weekly patient position control [20]. The were obtained 1C2 occasions during the therapy course (apart of one exception, patient #12) with a research purpose of post treatment ion beam range verification [21]. Table 1 This table provides number of CT studies including number of slices available per patient for are presented in the Additional file 1. Spacer-data Prostate patients treated at HIT, typically, at least one day prior to CT imaging, got spacer gel (SpaceOAR? System, Augmenix Inc., Waltham, MA, US) implanted in the urology department of University Clinic Heidelberg. Spacer gel precursors are injected under ultrasound guidance into potential space between Dennonvilliers Fascia and the frontal rectal wall and polymerize (solidify) within seconds. The additional space created between prostate and rectum has a volume of about 10C15?ml. More specific information about application of spacer gel for ion beam therapy could be found in our previous publication [18]. Prostate patients 90357-06-5 manufacture treated at HIT were immobilized using ProStep? System (Elekta AB (Publ), Stockholm, Sweden). CT sudies dedicated 90357-06-5 manufacture for TP at HIT 90357-06-5 manufacture were obtained with SIEMENS installed in the University Clinic in Heidelberg. The control CT studies were obtained using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) unit SIEMENS installed next door to the ion therapy treatment room. At HIT PET/CT is dedicated to post-therapeutic PET measurements performed for IL15RB in-vivo treatment monitoring [21]. Prostate patients after the therapy training course had been either shuttled in the procedure position to your pet area or (having went to the restroom) had been re-positioned in the couch from the Family pet/CT gadget (approximately a quarter-hour following the end of therapy). CT research attained for attenuation modification of Family pet acquisitions were useful for the evaluation shown in this research. The CT device from the Family pet/CT device can be commissioned for TP, that allows a reliable dosage distribution computation of treatment programs optimized for the treatment and put on the sufferers at Strike. The stability from the HU beliefs between TP CT and daily CT pictures is guaranteed with the regular QA procedures. Enrollment of CT research HIT provides digital X-ray centered patient position verification program for ion beam therapy of prostate sufferers. The radiography centered image guidance will not provide the information regarding dosimetric aftereffect of gentle tissue variants (including impact of spacer gel) and range uncertainties which will be the concentrate of provided investigation. To be able to focus on the gentle tissue displacements, preserving the enrollment method many excluding and accurate setting uncertainties in the dosimetric evaluation, an automatic bony anatomy-based CT research registration which includes translations and rotations was performed using Siemens SyngoRT preparing program (edition VA11A). This process imitated ideal ion therapy treatment circumstances possible to attain with cone beam CT centered positioning enabling 3D imaging with gentle tissue contrast. An excellent picture position was performed by your physician, in case a rotation of femur bone fragments occurred compared to the.