A calculation of the neutron RBE for BNCT
In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of malignant brain tumors, the patient is irradiated in an epithermal neutron field. Hence, a knowledge of the energy dependence of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of epithermal neutrons, RBE(E{sub n}), is important in designing a neutron field that will deliver to the patient a maximum ratio of thermal neutron fluence at the tumor site (numerator) to the normal-tissue RBE dose at the point where tolerance is reached (denominator). In this paper, the energy dependence of RBE(E{sub n}) is calculated using proton fluence energy distributions resulting from {sup 1}H(n,n{prime}){sup 1}H and {sup 14}N(n,p){sup 14}C reactions in tissue and using a measured relation between RBE and L, the linear energy transfer. The resulting relation for RBE(E{sub n}) is then normalized to the results of normal tissue tolerance studies performed in the Brookhaven medical research reactor (BMRR) epithermal neutron beam for BNCT.
- OSTI ID:
- 75842
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940602-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 95:003867-0012
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 70; Conference: 35. annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society, New Orleans, LA (United States), 11-16 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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