Microdosimetric investigations at the Fast Neutron Therapy Facility at Fermilab
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Microdosimetry was used to investigate three issues at the neutron therapy facility (NTF) at Fermilab. Firstly, the conversion factor from absorbed dose in A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to absorbed dose in ICRU tissue was determined. For this, the effective neutron kerma factor ratios, i.e. oxygen tissue equivalent plastic and carbon to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic, were measured in the neutron beam. An A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to ICRU tissue absorbed dose conversion factor of 0.92 ± 0.04 determined. Secondly, variations in the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) in the beam were mapped by determining variations in two related quantities, e* and R, with field size and depth in tissue. Maximal variation in e* and R of 9% and 15% respectively were determined. Lastly, the feasibility of utilizing the boron neutron capture reaction on boron-10 to selectively enhance the tumor dose in the NTF beam was investigated. In the unmodified beam, a negligible enhancement for a 50 ppm boron loading was measured. To boost the boron dose enhancement to 3% it was necessary to change the primary proton energy from 66 MeV and to filter the beam by 90 mm of tungsten.
- Research Organization:
- Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Medical Physics
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03000
- OSTI ID:
- 572669
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CH/03000-T28; ON: DE98051746; TRN: 98:004389
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: TH: Thesis (Ph.D.); PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Microdosimetric investigations at the fast neutron therapy facility at Fermilab
Microdosimetry for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy