Protoacoustics and Its Applications in Radiation Oncology

Protoacoustics, also known as ionoacoustics, is a rapidly evolving area in medical imaging technology, combining thermoacoustic principles with proton therapy. This technology has attracted significant interest in the scientific and clinical communities. Protoacoustics relies on the interaction between protons and tissues during radiation therapy, generating acoustic waves that can be captured and transformed into images. These images provide valuable data on the proton beam–tissue interaction, enabling real-time range verification during proton therapy. This chapter discusses the theoretical foundations, instrumentation development, software advancements, and potential applications of protoacoustics, such as Bragg peak localization and in vivo dosimetry. Despite some technical and regulatory challenges, protoacoustics holds great promise for revolutionizing cancer imaging and therapy with improved precision and effectiveness.