A neutronic study of an accelerator-based neutron irradiation facility for the treatment of superficial melanoma by boron neutron capture therapy

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Nuclear Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6928579

Qu, T X.B.; Blue, T E; Wang, C K.C.; Gahbauer, R A ^[1]

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1. Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Nuclear Engineering Program

Previously, a neutronic study of an accelerator-based epithermal neutron irradiation facility (AENIF) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) was performed using three-dimensional Monte Carlo transport calculations. The major components of the AENIF are a radio-frequency quadrupole proton accelerator, a [sup 7]Li target, and a moderator assembly. Neutrons are generated by bombarding the bombarding the [sup 7]Li target with 2.5-MeV protons. The neutrons emerging from the [sup 7]Li target are too energetic to be used for BNCT and are moderated as they traverse the moderator assembly to the patient. The design of a moderator assembly for an AENIF for the treatment of glioblastoma is reviewed, and this design is compared with the design of a moderator assembly for an accelerator thermal neutron irradiation facility (ATNIF) for the treatment of superficial melanoma. The ATNIF moderator assembly consists of a 50-cm-high [times] 30-cm-diam cylinder of D[sub 2]O, surrounded on its top and sides by a 40-cm-thick graphite reflector. This moderator assembly creates, at the surface of a large phantom at its irradiation port, a boron absorbed dose rate of (3.2 [+-] 0.2) cGy/(min[center dot]mA), for a tumor [sup 10]B concentration of 24 [mu]g of [sup 10]B per gram of tissue. For a single-session dose equivalent of 40 Sv to the tumor, the treatment times is 13 min for a 30-mA proton beam. With different moderator assemblies, a 30-mA, 2.5-MeV proton accelerator can be used to treat both superficial and deep lesions from melanomas and gliomas.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6928579
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (United States), Vol. 91; ISSN 0029-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ACCELERATOR FACILITIES
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
BORON 10
UPTAKE
MELANOMAS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
MODERATORS
NEUTRON SOURCES
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
HEAVY WATER
LITHIUM 7 TARGET
NEUTRON REFLECTORS
BARYONS
BORON ISOTOPES
CARCINOMAS
DISEASES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITHELIOMAS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NEUTRAL-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SOURCES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
TARGETS
THERAPY
WATER
430303* - Particle Accelerators- Experimental Facilities & Equipment
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)