Power Burst Reactor Facility as an epithermal neutron source for brain cancer therapy

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6136835

Wheeler, F J

The Power Burst Facility (PBF) reactor is considered for modification to provide an intense, clean source of intermediate-energy (epithermal) neutrons desirable for clinical studies of neutron capture therapy (NCT) for malignant tumors. The modifications include partial replacement of the reflector, installation of a neutron-moderating, shifting region, additional shielding, and penetration of the present concrete shield with a collimating (and optionally) filtering region. The studies have indicated that the reactor, after these modifications, will be safely operable at full power (28 MW) within the acceptable limits of the plant protection systems. The neutron beam exiting from the collimator port is predicted to be of sufficient intensity (approx.10/sup 10/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/-s) to provide therapeutic doses in very short irradiation times. The beam would be relatively free of undesirable fast neutrons, thermal neutrons and gamma rays. The calculated neutron energy spectrum and associated gamma rays in the beam were provided as input in simulation studies that used a computer model of a patient with a brain tumor to determine predicted dose rates to the tumor and healthy tissue. The results of this conceptual study indicate an intense, clean beam of epithermal neutrons for NCT clinical trials is attainable in the PBF facility with properly engineered design modifications. 9 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6136835
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-01386; CONF-860155-1; ON: DE86007621
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BARYONS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COLLIMATORS
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEDICINE
MOCKUP
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEONS
ORGANS
PHANTOMS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
STRUCTURAL MODELS
THERAPY
THERMAL NEUTRONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS