Monte Carlo based dosimetry and treatment planning for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Basic Life Sciences; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5802-2_22· OSTI ID:6246961

Zamenhof, R G; Clement, S D; Harling, O K; Brenner, J F; Wazer, D E; Madoc-Jones, H; Yanch, J C ^[1]

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1. Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA (USA)

Monte Carlo based dosimetry and computer-aided treatment planning for neutron capture therapy have been developed to provide the necessary link between physical dosimetric measurements performed on the MITR-II epithermal-neutron beams and the need of the radiation oncologist to synthesize large amounts of dosimetric data into a clinically meaningful treatment plan for each individual patient. Monte Carlo simulation has been employed to characterize the spatial dose distributions within a skull/brain model irradiated by an epithermal-neutron beam designed for neutron capture therapy applications. The geometry and elemental composition employed for the mathematical skull/brain model and the neutron and photon fluence-to-dose conversion formalism are presented. A treatment planning program, NCTPLAN, developed specifically for neutron capture therapy, is described. Examples are presented illustrating both one and two-dimensional dose distributions obtainable within the brain with an experimental epithermal-neutron beam, together with beam quality and treatment plan efficacy criteria which have been formulated for neutron capture therapy. The incorporation of three-dimensional computed tomographic image data into the treatment planning procedure is illustrated. The experimental epithermal-neutron beam has a maximum usable circular diameter of 20 cm, and with 30 ppm of B-10 in tumor and 3 ppm of B-10 in blood, it produces a beam-axis advantage depth of 7.4 cm, a beam-axis advantage ratio of 1.83, a global advantage ratio of 1.70, and an advantage depth RBE-dose rate to tumor of 20.6 RBE-cGy/min (cJ/kg-min). These characteristics make this beam well suited for clinical applications, enabling an RBE-dose of 2,000 RBE-cGy/min (cJ/kg-min) to be delivered to tumor at brain midline in six fractions with a treatment time of approximately 16 minutes per fraction.

• OSTI ID: 6246961
• Journal Information: Basic Life Sciences; (USA), Journal Name: Basic Life Sciences; (USA) Vol. 54; ISSN BLFSB; ISSN 0090-5542
• 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
DISEASES
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HEAVY WATER COOLED REACTORS
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
MEDICINE
MITR REACTOR
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEONS
ORGANS
PLANNING
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RBE
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SPATIAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
THERAPY
THERMAL REACTORS
TRAINING REACTORS