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Neutron capture therapy with 235 U seeds
Author(s) -
Liu Hungyuan B.,
Brugger Robert M.,
Shih JingLuen A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.596814
Subject(s) - neutron , neutron capture , neutron temperature , monte carlo method , brachytherapy , radiochemistry , nuclear physics , materials science , nuclear medicine , physics , nuclear engineering , medical physics , medicine , radiation therapy , chemistry , radiology , mathematics , statistics , engineering
A combination of brachytherapy and neutron capture therapy has been evaluated using 235 U metal seeds and external neutron beam irradiation. When thermal neutrons are absorbed by 235 U, high‐energy neutrons and gamma rays are produced and some of these deposit energy in surrounding tissue. A Monte Carlo program, using the code MCNP, has been used to evaluate two sizes of 235 U seeds in a water phantom. The results of flux suppression around the seeds and dose distributions are illustrated and discussed. The results show that high doses can be delivered in a relatively short time by using 235 U seeds with neutron capture therapy. This therapy with multiple needles or seeds can be envisioned as a substitute for traditional brachytherapy to give an effective killing dose.