Mixed field dosimetry of epithermal neutron beams for boron neutron capture therapy at the MITR-II research reactor

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Medical Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.597267· OSTI ID:6861464

Rogus, R D; Harling, O K; Yanch, J C ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

During the past several years, there has been growing interest in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) using epithermal neutron beams. The dosimetry of these beams is challenging. The incident beam is comprised mostly of epithermal neutrons, but there is some contamination from photons and fast neutrons. Within the patient, the neutron spectrum changes rapidly as the incident epithermal neutrons scatter and thermalize, and a photon field is generated from neutron capture in hydrogen. In this paper, a method to determine the doses from thermal and fast neutrons, photons, and the B-10([ital n],[alpha])Li-7 reaction is presented. The photon and fast neutron doses are measured with ionization chambers, in realistic phantoms, using the dual chamber technique. The thermal neutron flux is measured with gold foils using the cadmium difference technique; the thermal neutron and B-10 doses are determined by the kerma factor method. Representative results are presented for a unilateral irradiation of the head. Sources of error in the method as applied to BNCT dosimetry, and the uncertainties in the calculated doses are discussed.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER60600
• OSTI ID: 6861464
• Journal Information: Medical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Medical Physics; (United States) Vol. 21:10; ISSN 0094-2405; ISSN MPHYA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BARYONS
BEAMS
BORON 10
BORON ISOTOPES
BOSONS
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LITHIUM 7
LITHIUM ISOTOPES
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEDICINE
MOCKUP
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHANTOMS
PHOTONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
STRUCTURAL MODELS
THERAPY