Computational assessment of deep-seated tumor treatment capability of the ⁹Be(d,n)¹⁰B reaction for accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT)

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• 作者：M.E. Capoulat ; D.M. Minsky ; A.J. Kreiner
• 关键词：Accelerator-based BNCT ; 9Be(d ; n)10B reaction ; Monte-Carlo-simulations ; Brain tumor treatment
• 刊名：Physica Medica
• 出版年：March, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：30
• 期：2
• 页码：133-146
• 全文大小：2465 K

文摘

The ⁹Be(d,n)¹⁰B reaction was studied as an epithermal neutron source for brain tumor treatment through Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). In BNCT, neutrons are classified according to their energies as thermal (<0.5聽eV), epithermal (from 0.5聽eV to 10聽keV) or fast (>10聽keV). For deep-seated tumors epithermal neutrons are needed. Since a fraction of the neutrons produced by this reaction are quite fast (up to 5-6聽MeV, even for low-bombarding energies), an efficient beam shaping design is required. This task was carried out (1) by selecting the combinations of bombarding energy and target thickness that minimize the highest-energy neutron production; and (2) by the appropriate choice of the Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA) geometry, for each of the combinations found in (1). The BSA geometry was determined as the configuration that maximized the dose deliverable to the tumor in a 1聽h treatment, within the constraints imposed by the healthy tissue dose adopted tolerance. Doses were calculated through the MCNP code.

The highest dose deliverable to the tumor was found for an 8聽渭m target and a deuteron beam聽of聽1.45聽MeV. Tumor weighted doses 鈮?0聽Gy can be delivered up to about 5聽cm in depth, with聽a聽maximum value of 51聽Gy at a depth of about 2聽cm. This dose performance can be improved by聽relaxing the treatment time constraint and splitting the treatment into two 1-h sessions. These聽good treatment capabilities strengthen the prospects for a potential use of this reaction in BNCT.