Open AccessMicrodosimetric investigations at the fast neutron therapy facility at Fermilab
Author(s) -
K Langen
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/3483
Subject(s) - absorbed dose , neutron , nuclear medicine , neutron capture , fermilab , radiochemistry , materials science , californium , kerma , relative biological effectiveness , equivalent dose , beam (structure) , dosimetry , irradiation , nuclear physics , physics , chemistry , optics , medicine
Microdosimetry was used to investigate three issues at the neutron therapy facility (NTF) at Fermilab. Firstly, the conversion factor from absorbed dose in A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to absorbed dose in ICRU tissue was determined. For this, the effective neutron kerma factor ratios, i.e., oxygen tissue equivalent plastic and carbon to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic, were measured in the neutron beam. An A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to ICRU tissue absorbed dose conversion factor of 0.92 {+-} 0.04 was determined. Secondly, variations in the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) in the beam were mapped by determining variations in two related quantities, e{sup *} and R, with field size and depth in tissue. Maximal variation in e{sup *} and R of 9% and 15% respectively were determined. Lastly, the feasibility of utilizing the boron neutron capture reaction on boron-10 to selectively enhance the tumor dose in the NTF beam was investigated