Heavy Ion Therapy in Brain Tumors

In recent decades, huge strides in technological development have rendered photon-based radiotherapy (RT) an increasingly important tool in cancer therapy for brain and skull base tumors, allowing physicians to deliver the highest radiation more precisely to the tumor than ever before. In this scenario, the therapeutic use of heavy ions including protons and carbon ions has gained significant interest die to beneficial physical and radiobiological properties compared to conventional photon-based RT. The present chapter provides the reader with the state-of-the-art heavy ion therapy concepts of brain and skull base tumors, both in adult and paediatric settings, in view of the most relevant literature data and a brief dissertation on particle therapy cost-effectiveness issues.