Real-time dosimetry for boron neutron-capture therapy

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.467899· OSTI ID:136878

Bliss, M; Craig, R A; Reeder, P L; Sunberg, D S ^[1]

---

1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)

Epithermal/thermal boron neutron-capture therapy (BNCT) as a promising treatment method for malignant tumors. Because the doses rates for medical therapeutic radiation are very close to the normal tissue tolerance, small errors in radiation delivery can result in harmful overdoses. A substantial need exists for a device that will monitor, in real time, the radiation dose being delivered to a patient. Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) has developed a scintillating glass optical fiber that is sensitive to thermal neutrons. The small size of the fibers offers the possibility of in vivo dose monitoring at several points within the radiation field. The count rate of such detectors may approach 10 MHz because the lifetime of the cerium activator is fast. Fluxes typical of those in BNCT (i.e., 10{sup 9} n/cm{sup 2}/sec) may be with a single fiber because of this potentially high count rate and the small diameter of the fiber.

• OSTI ID: 136878
• Report Number(s): CONF-941061--
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science Journal Issue: 4Pt1 Vol. 42; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
DESIGN
LUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS
NEOPLASMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS