Vertebral metastases are a common manifestation of many cancers, potentially leading to vertebral collapse and neurological complications. Conventional treatment often involves percutaneous vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty followed by external beam radiation therapy. As a more convenient alternative, we have introduced radioactive bone cement, i.e. bone cement incorporating a radionuclide. In this study, we used a previously developed Monte Carlo radiation transport modeling method to evaluate dose distributions from phosphorus-32 radioactive cement in simulated clinical scenarios. Isodose curves were generally concentric about the surface of bone cement injected into cadaveric vertebrae, indicating that dose distributions are relatively predictable, thus facilitating treatment planning (cement formulation and dosimetry method are patent pending). Model results indicated that a therapeutic dose could be delivered to tumor/bone within ∼4 mm of the cement surface while maintaining a safe dose to radiosensitive tissue beyond this distance. This therapeutic range should be sufficient to treat target volumes within the vertebral body when tumor ablation or other techniques are used to create a cavity into which the radioactive cement can be injected. With further development, treating spinal metastases with radioactive bone cement may become a clinically useful and convenient alternative to the conventional two-step approach of percutaneous strength restoration followed by radiotherapy.

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majoring in Ocean Engineering with a geology minor in Marine Geosciences. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida by the parents of Mario and Susan Miranda. I have previously worked for Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute as a project intern for the design of the Red Lobster sponsored lobster collection vessel that is undergo in the Turks and Cacaos. I currently hold the Propulsion chair for the Human Powered Submarine team at FAU, making my duties responsible for the design of the power-train and propeller characteristics and autonomously controllable pitch system. I am also developing an acoustic modem for subsurface telemetry under the guidance of Dr. Ravi Shankar and Dr. Pierre-Philippe Beaujean, FAU. I have taken it upon my self to expand my knowledge as a highly motivated undergraduate student and my goal is to share the experience that I have been given the opportunity for in hope, to inspire other system engineering students alike. As a team, the effort of this project has been in part by the help of the Department of Ocean and System Engineering staff including

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