ACCELERATED PROTONS IN THE TREATMENT OF CNS TUMORS IN CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

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DOI:  https://www.doi.org/10.31917/1803298

For the majority of pediatric patients with brain tumors radiation therapy is one
major component in a medical complex. The main problem with its use is the prevention
of remote consequences for potentially curable patients. The use of radiation
therapy with accelerated protons, due to the peculiarities of the distribution of energy
in the tissues, allows for maximum reduction of the radiation load on critical structure
and to reduce the severity of late effects compared with that observed after irradiation
by photons with the equivalent immediate effect. In this regard, proton irradiation is
preferable for patients with potentially curable brain tumors, for which the photon
radiation is associated with risk of development of late complications. The higher cost
of proton irradiation refunded by reduction in the cost of treating the consequences
observed after photon radiation therapy.