Neutron sources for boron neutron therapy

Harrington, BV; Storr, GJ; Allen, BJ; Meriaty, H; Godfrey, RM

Neutron sources for boron neutron therapy

Date

1991-10-02

Authors

Publisher

AINSE

Abstract

Currently only thermal neutron capture therapy is practiced in Japan, where reactors at Kyota University Research reactor Institute and Japanese Atomic Energy Research Institute provide limited access for the intra-operative treatment of high grade brain tumours and cutaneous melanoma. Epithermal beams are available at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA and installation is nearing comp l et ion at the JRC Reactor at Petten, The Netherlands. Clinical trials with epi thermal beams are expected to begin in 1992. In Australia, two reactors are available for NCT. Thermal NCT is carried out on small rodents in Moata, the 100k W Argon naut reactor. A thermal patient NCT facility could be installed at HIFAR, a 10 MW reactor of the DIDO class. However, clinicians would prefer that an epi thermal beam be available for the treatment of deep-seated tumours. Our design considerations to date indicate that a therapeutic epi thermal beam from the HIFAR IOH facility is feasible and further calculations and experiments are underway to confirm this position. We estimate that an epithermal neutron flux of 0.5 109n cm-2-1s will be available. On this basis, the outpatient treatment schedule would be 5 dose fractions, with bilateral exposures of 20 min each, for whole brain treatment for high grade brain tumours. Measurements at the IOH beam hole with the existing a 2 cm square collimator indicate a thermal flux of 1.0 E09, a useful epithermal flux of 0.3 E09 and gamma dose rate of 70 Gy/h. By maximising the possible solid angle at the core, using an Al spectrum shifter and liquid argon gamma absorber, and reactor power of 15 MW, the desired epi thermal flux should be achievable. The liquid argon filter is critical for the reduction in gamma ray dose to acceptable levels while still transmitting the epi thermal neutrons.

Description

Physical copy held by ANSTO Library at DDC: 571.45/15

Keywords

Australia, Experimental data, HIFAR Reactor, Neutron capture therapy, Neutron flux, Neutron sources, Thermal neutrons, Therapy, Clinical trials

Citation

Harrington, B. V., Storr, G., Allen, B. J., Meriaty, H., & Godfrey, R. (1991). Neutron sources for boron neutron therapy. Presentation to the 13th AINSE Radiation Biology Conference, 2-4 October 1991, Lucas Heights - AINSE Theatre : conference handbook (programme, abstracts and general information), (pp. 50). Lucas Heights, New South Wales : AINSE.