Relative biological effectiveness for damage to the central nervous system by neutrons

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(81)90435-1· OSTI ID:6619618

Hornsey, S; Morris, C C; Myers, R; White, A

The relationship between Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and dose/fraction for damage to the spinal cord and brain has been established for the Hammersmith neutron beam (Ed = 16 MeV-Be). Results of RBE for fast neutrons from other centers are reviewed. The Ed = 16 MeV-Be (Hammersmith) and Ed = 22 MeV-Be (Seattle) neutrons were 1.15 more effective than 15 MeV d-T (Rijswijk) and 50 MeV-Be (Houston). With these results and the formula TD = NSD N /sup 38/ T /sup 02/ (which has been established for x rays on nervous tissue), it is possible that the neutron doses which have been used in clinical trials of brain tumors were all above tolerance. This hypothesis is consistent with the clinical findings. If RBE is plotted against ..gamma..-ray dose/fraction, the RBE relative to an acceptable x ray schedule can be read off directly; if RBE is plotted against neutron dose/fraction, the equivalent ..gamma..-ray dose can be obtained. At 200 rad/fraction of ..gamma..-rays, the RBE for Ed = 16 MeV-Be neutrons is 5.2. On this basis a total neutron dose of about 1100 rad to a large volume of the brain probably would be the maximum that could be tolerated.

• Research Organization: Hammersmith Hospital, London, England
• OSTI ID: 6619618
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DISEASES
DOSES
DOSIMETRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RATS
RBE
RODENTS
SPINAL CORD
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION