title: Application of fission track detectors to californium-252 neutron dosimetry in tissue near the radiation source.
abstract: Fission track detectors were applied to a unique problem in neutron dosimetry. Measurements of neutron doses were required at locations within a tumor of 1 cm diameter implanted on the back of a mouse and surrounded by a square array of four 252Cf medical sources. Measurements made in a tissue-equivalent mouse phantom showed that the neutron dose rate to the center of the tumor was 2.18 rads micrograms-1 h-1 +/- 8.4%. The spatial variation of neutron dose to the tumor ranged from 1.88 to 2.55 rads micrograms-1 h-1. These measurements agree with calculated values of neutron dose to those locations in the phantom. Fission track detectors have been found to be a reliable tool for neutron dosimetry for geometries in which one wishes to know neutron dose values which may vary considerably over distances of 1 cm or less.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002142:Californium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005373:Film Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D002142:Californium