The Fission Converter-Based Epithermal Neutron Irradiation Facility at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor

Harling, O. K.; Riley, Kent J.; Newton, Thomas H.; Wilson, B.; Bernard, John A.; Hu, Lu; Fonteneau, E. J.; Menadier, Paul T.; Ali, S J; Sutharshan, Balendra; Kohse, G.; Ostrovsky, Yuri; Stahle, P. W.; Binns, Peter J.; Kiger, W. S.; Busse, Paul M.

doi:10.13182/nse02-a2258

Cited by 56 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Nowadays at several nuclear reactors were created BNCT facilities [1][2][3][4] with complex engineering systems consisting of uranium converter, moderators, filters, collimators and shielding for epithermal neutron beams to produce necessary energy distribution and intensity. Nuclear reactors as neutron source for radiation therapy have such important feature as temporal and spatial stabilities of neutron flux, but constructing such facilities in oncology centers looks impossible.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of an accelerator-based epithermal neutron source for neutron capture therapy

Kononov

Bokhovko

et al. 2004

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

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A modeling investigation was performed to choose moderator material and size for creating optimal epithermal neutron beams for BNCT based on a proton accelerator and the 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be reaction as a neutrons source. An optimal configuration is suggested for the beam shaping assembly made from polytetrafluoroethylene and magnesium fluorine. Results of calculation were experimentally tested and are in good agreement with measurements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of an accelerator-based epithermal neutron source for neutron capture therapy

Kononov

Bokhovko

et al. 2004

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

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“…The WSU facility is the third clinical-scale reactor-based epithermal-neutron source for BNCT research that has been constructed in the U.S. With the recent decision to decommission the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor, the new WSU neutron source and a recently constructed epithermal beam facility at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 19 are the only two currently operating, reactor based facilities of this type in the U.S. The measurements reported here confirm the expected neutronic performance of this facility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

INEEL Advanced Radiotherapy Research Program Annual Report for 2002

Venhuizen¹

2003

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“…Epithermal-neutron beams with dimension 10 × 10 cm and flux densitỹ 10 9 sec -1 ·cm -2 are needed to perform clinical studies and treatment. Several facilities where the spatial-energy formation of the epithermal-neutron beam is performed with a complicated system of moderators, filters, collimators, and shielding have now been developed on the basis of nuclear reactors [1][2][3][4]. A epithermal neutron beam with the best characteristics for neutron-capture therapy today has been produced on the basis of the 5-MW MITR II reactor (USA) [2][3][4].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several facilities where the spatial-energy formation of the epithermal-neutron beam is performed with a complicated system of moderators, filters, collimators, and shielding have now been developed on the basis of nuclear reactors [1][2][3][4]. A epithermal neutron beam with the best characteristics for neutron-capture therapy today has been produced on the basis of the 5-MW MITR II reactor (USA) [2][3][4]. In this facility, the reactor thermal-neutron flux is converted by a 235 U converter into a fission-neutron flux from which the epithermal-neutron beam is then formed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Accelerator-based source of epithermal neutrons for neutron capture therapy

Kononov

Solovev

et al. 2004

At Energy

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Computational studies are performed for choosing an optimal material and dimensions of a moderator for forming a beam of epithermal neutrons for boron-neutron-capture therapy based on a proton accelerator and the reaction 7 Li(p, n) 7 Be as the neutron source. It is shown that the best material for this is magnesium fluoride. An optimal configuration is proposed for a combined moderator consisting of magnesium fluoride and teflon. The computational results are compared with the experimental data.Neutron capture therapy, whose fundamental feature is selectivity of the radiation damage to cancer cells, is now regarded as a promising method for treating certain malignant tumors, specifically, various forms of brain tumors. Although the therapeutic effect in this method is based on the radiation action of the products of nuclear reactions, produced by thermal neutrons in strongly neutron-absorbing nuclides, such as 10 B and 157 Gd, the low penetration power of thermal neutrons in tissue limits their application to tumors located near the surface or to irradiating internal organs during an operation. For many deep-lying tumors, it is better to use epithermal neutrons in the energy range 1 eV-10 keV whose penetration power is much higher. Moderated in the tissue to thermal energy, they permit neutron-capture therapy on tumors located at depths up to 10 cm. Here it is important that the number of fast neutrons in the epithermal-neutron spectrum, which limit the possible achievable therapeutic dose in the tumor, be small. As a rule, the maximum admissable radiation load in the outer layers, which is produced by fast neutrons, is a limitation. Epithermal-neutron beams with dimension 10 × 10 cm and flux densitỹ 10 9 sec -1 ·cm -2 are needed to perform clinical studies and treatment. Several facilities where the spatial-energy formation of the epithermal-neutron beam is performed with a complicated system of moderators, filters, collimators, and shielding have now been developed on the basis of nuclear reactors [1][2][3][4]. A epithermal neutron beam with the best characteristics for neutron-capture therapy today has been produced on the basis of the 5-MW MITR II reactor (USA) [2][3][4]. In this facility, the reactor thermal-neutron flux is converted by a 235 U converter into a fission-neutron flux from which the epithermal-neutron beam is then formed. Although the nuclear reactor as an intense neutron source for radiotherapy possesses important advantages, such as high neutron flux density in space and time, the development of a series of such facilities for wide application is unrealistic even in large oncological centers because of nuclear-safety considerations, high capital costs, and operational longevity.In this connection, the development of a neutron source for neutron-capture therapy based on an inexpensive proton accelerator with energy 2-3 MeV with beam power 10-20 kW, intended for use in oncological clinics, has been widely discussed and investigated for the last 10 years [5][6][7][8]. The reaction 7 Li(p, n)...

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The Fission Converter-Based Epithermal Neutron Irradiation Facility at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor

Cited by 56 publications

References 23 publications

Optimization of an accelerator-based epithermal neutron source for neutron capture therapy

Optimization of an accelerator-based epithermal neutron source for neutron capture therapy

INEEL Advanced Radiotherapy Research Program Annual Report for 2002

Accelerator-based source of epithermal neutrons for neutron capture therapy

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