Jm. Verbeke et al., Neutron beam optimization for boron neutron capture therapy using the D-D and D-T high-energy neutron sources, NUCL TECH, 129(2), 2000, pp. 257-278
A monoenergetic neutron beam simulation study is carried out to determine t
he most suitable neutron energy for treatment of shallow and deep-seated br
ain tumors in the context of boron neutron capture therapy. Two figures-of-
merit-the absorbed skin dose and the absorbed tumor dose at a given depth i
n the brain-are used to measure the neutron beam quality. Based on the resu
lts of this study: moderators, reflectors, and delimiters are designed and
optimized to moderate the high-energy neutrons from the fusion reactions H-
2(d,n)He-3 and H-3(d,n)He-4 down to a suitable energy spectrum. Two differe
nt computational models (MCNP and BNCT_RTPE) have been used to study the do
se distribution in the brain. With the optimal beam-shaping assembly, a 1-A
mixed denteron/triton beam of energy 150 keV accelerated onto a titanium t
arget leads to a treatment time of 1 h. The dose near the center of the bra
in obtained with this configuration is >65% higher than the dose from a typ
ical spectrum produced by the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor and is co
mparable to the dose obtained by other accelerator-produced neutron beams.