Document Detail


A state-of-the-art epithermal neutron irradiation facility for neutron capture therapy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15446801     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) the first fission converter-based epithermal neutron beam (FCB) has proven suitable for use in clinical trials of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The modern facility provides a high intensity beam together with low levels of contamination that is ideally suited for use with future, more selective boron delivery agents. Prescriptions for normal tissue tolerance doses consist of 2 or 3 fields lasting less than 10 min each with the currently available beam intensity, that are administered with an automated beam monitoring and control system to help ensure safety of the patient and staff alike. A quality assurance program ensures proper functioning of all instrumentation and safety interlocks as well as constancy of beam output relative to routine calibrations. Beam line shutters and the medical room walls provide sufficient shielding to enable access and use of the facility without affecting other experiments or normal operation of the multipurpose research reactor at MIT. Medical expertise and a large population in the greater Boston area are situated conveniently close to the university, which operates the research reactor 24 h a day for approximately 300 days per year. The operational characteristics of the facility closely match those established for conventional radiotherapy, which together with a near optimum beam performance ensure that the FCB is capable of determining whether the radiobiological promise of NCT can be realized in routine practice.
Authors:
K J Riley; P J Binns; O K Harling
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Physics in medicine and biology     Volume:  49     ISSN:  0031-9155     ISO Abbreviation:  Phys Med Biol     Publication Date:  2004 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-09-27     Completed Date:  2005-02-09     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0401220     Medline TA:  Phys Med Biol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3725-35     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. flavor@mit.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Academic Medical Centers
Boron Compounds / therapeutic use*
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / instrumentation*,  methods*
Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
Equipment Design
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Neutron Capture Therapy / instrumentation,  methods*
Neutrons
Nuclear Fission
Occupational Exposure
Photons
Quality Control
Radiation
Radiometry / methods*
Radiotherapy Dosage
Safety
Time Factors
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Boron Compounds

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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