TU-F-CAMPUS-T-01: Dose and Energy Spectra From Neutron Induced Radioactivity in Medical Linear Accelerators Following High Energy Total Body Irradiation

Journal Article · Mon Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Medical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.4925786· OSTI ID:22570030

Keehan, S; Taylor, M; Franich, R ^[1]; Smith, R ^[2]; Dunn, L ^[3]; Kron, T ^[4]

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1. RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC (Australia)
2. William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre, Melbourne, VIC (Australia)
3. Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service, Yallambie, VIC (Australia)
4. Peter MacCallum Cancer Instit, Melbourne (Australia)

Purpose: To assess the risk posed by neutron induced activation of components in medical linear accelerators (linacs) following the delivery of high monitor unit 18 MV photon beams such as used in TBI. Methods: Gamma spectroscopy was used to identify radioisotopes produced in components of a Varian 21EX and an Elekta Synergy following delivery of photon beams. Dose and risk estimates for TBI were assessed using dose deliveries from an actual patient treatment. A 1 litre spherical ion chamber (PTW, Germany) has been used to measure the dose at the beam exit window and at the total body irradiation (TBI) treatment couch following large and small field beams with long beam-on times. Measurements were also made outside of the closed jaws to quantify the benefit of the attenuation provided by the jaws. Results: The radioisotopes produced in the linac head have been identified as {sup 187}W, {sup 56}Mn, {sup 24}Na and {sup 28}Al, which have half-lives from between 2.3 min to 24 hours. The dose at the beam exit window following an 18 MV 2197 MU TBI beam delivery was 12.6 µSv in ten minutes. The dose rate at the TBI treatment couch 4.8 m away is a factor of ten lower. For a typical TBI delivered in six fractions each consisting of four beams and an annual patient load of 24, the annual dose estimate for a staff member at the treatment couch for ten minutes is 750 µSv. This can be further reduced by a factor of about twelve if the jaws are closed before entering the room, resulting in a dose estimate of 65 µSv. Conclusion: The dose resulting from the activation products for a representative TBI workload at our clinic of 24 patients per year is 750 µSv, which can be further reduced to 65 µSv by closing the jaws.

• OSTI ID: 22570030
• Journal Information: Medical Physics, Journal Name: Medical Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 42; ISSN 0094-2405; ISSN MPHYA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
ALUMINIUM 28
ENERGY SPECTRA
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MANGANESE 56
PHOTON BEAMS
RADIATION DOSES
SODIUM 24
TUNGSTEN 187
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION