Work

Characterization of miniature tissue-equivalent proportional counters for neutron radiotherapy applications

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: A miniature tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) system has been developed to facilitate microdosimetric measurements in high-flux mixed fields. Counters with collecting volumes of 12.3 and 2.65 mm3 have been constructed using various tissue-equivalent wall materials, including those loaded with 10B for evaluation of the effects of the boron neutron capture reaction. These counters provide a measure of both the absorbed dose and associated radiation quality, allowing an assessment of the utility and relative effectiveness of various neutron radiotherapy techniques such as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy (BNCEFNT) and intensity modulated neutron radiotherapy (IMNRT). An evaluation of the physical parameters affecting the measured microdosimetric spectrum, the gas multiplication characteristics and the measurement of absorbed dose is presented. In addition, important aspects of the calibration and low energy extrapolation techniques for the microdosimetric spectrum are provided.

Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology

DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/47/10/302

Authors: Jay Burmeister, Chandrasekhar Kota, Richard L Maughan, Anthony J Waker

Institutions: Wayne State University, Harper University Hospital, The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Atomic Energy (Canada)

Language: English

Topic: Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brookhaven National Laboratory