Feasibility of pancreatectomy following high-dose proton therapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer

Figure 1 Favorable physical characteristics of proton radiotherapy are demonstrated. A: Charged particles such as protons travel a finite distance into tissue, as determined by their energy, and then release that energy within a tightly defined region called the “Bragg peak”; B: By delivering a range of energies toward the tumor target, several Bragg peaks can be formed to create a “spread-out Bragg peak” that conforms to the depth and position of the tumor target.