A COMPREHENSIVE PC-BASED COMPUTER-MODEL FOR MICRODOSIMETRY OF BNCT

A computer model is described that performs microdosimetric calculatio ns of the radiation dose delivered to tumour and normal tissue in boro n neutron capture therapy (BNCT) by simulating capture reactions in a predefined three-dimensional space. The role of intracellular boron di stributions and cellular dimensions on the radiation dose in clinical and experimental BNCT has been studied using a PC-based computer model . In order to calculate the radiation dose to low boron uptake cells, the extent of irradiation by boron containing adjacent cells (cross fi re) is also dealt with. Radiation doses from boron and nitrogen neutro n capture are converted to a biological effect by means of relative in dividual ion track segment efficacies, based on linear energy transfer along the particle track. A good correlation was found after comparin g predicted values with previously published experimental data. A numb er of examples is given to illustrate the program's features.