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Early assessment of normal tissue tolerance of fast neutron beam radiation therapy
Author(s) -
Parker Robert G.,
Berry Herbert C.,
Gerdes Arthur J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197609)38:3<1118::aid-cncr2820380311>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - medicine , nuclear medicine , glioblastoma , radiation therapy , neutron , head and neck , head and neck cancer , surgery , nuclear physics , physics , cancer research
Between September 10, 1973 and May 20, 1975, 94 selected patients were treated with fast neutron beams generated by bombarding an “intermediate” beryllium target with 21 MeV deuterons. The clinical material included: 58 patients with head and neck cancers; 27 patients with cerebral glioblastoma multiforme; and 9 patients with a variety of other neoplasms. Of the 67 patients treated only with neutron beams, 31 received two increments per week and 36 received three increments per week. The calculated doses in most patients were 1800 rad nγ (neutrons + gamma components) delivered in 6 weeks. Seventeen patients were treated with two increments of neutron beams and three increments of 60 Co photons weekly to calculated total doses of 780–1050 rad nγ + 3360–3780 rad 60 Coγ delivered over 50–54 days. Ten patients were treated with neutron beam “boosts” of 300–900 rad nγ in three to seven increments over 8–23 days following conventional radiation therapy. Treatment has been well tolerated, with only 9 of 94 patients not completing the anticipated course. In three of these, treatment was discontinued because of intercurrent problems. Except for those patients with glioblastoma multiforme, treatment complications have not been dose‐related. In four patients, complications probably were related to persistent cancer. Neutron beam irradiation may have been a factor in the neurologic deterioration of five patients with glioblastoma multiforme who did not complete treatment.