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Designing accelerator‐based epithermal neutron beams for boron neutron capture therapy
Author(s) -
Bleuel D. L.,
Donahue R. J.,
Ludewigt B. A.,
Vujic J.
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1118/1.598353
Subject(s) - neutron capture , neutron , neutron source , materials science , proton , nuclear physics , beam (structure) , boron , monte carlo method , dosimetry , linear particle accelerator , fluence , radiochemistry , neutron temperature , particle accelerator , proton therapy , neutron moderator , neutron radiation , irradiation , neutron cross section , nuclear medicine , physics , chemistry , optics , medicine , statistics , mathematics
The7 Li ( p , n ) 7 Be reaction has been investigated as an accelerator‐driven neutron source for proton energies between 2.1 and 2.6 MeV. Epithermal neutron beams shaped by three moderator materials,Al / AlF 3, 7 LiF , and D 2 O , have been analyzed and their usefulness for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) treatments evaluated. Radiation transport through the moderator assembly has been simulated with the Monte Carlo N ‐particle code (MCNP). Fluence and dose distributions in a head phantom were calculated using BNCT treatment planning software. Depth‐dose distributions and treatment times were studied as a function of proton beam energy and moderator thickness. It was found that an accelerator‐based neutron source withAl / AlF 3or7 LiF as moderator material can produce depth‐dose distributions superior to those calculated for a previously published neutron beam design for the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor, achieving up to ∼50% higher doses near the midline of the brain. For a single beam treatment, a proton beam current of 20 mA, and a7 LiF moderator, the treatment time was estimated to be about 40 min. The tumor dose deposited at a depth of 8 cm was calculated to be about 21 Gy‐Eq.