title: A toolkit for epithermal neutron beam characterisation in BNCT.
abstract: Methods for dosimetry of epithermal neutron beams used in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) have been developed and utilised within the Finnish BNCT project as well as within a European project for a code of practise for the dosimetry of BNCT. One outcome has been a travelling toolkit for BNCT dosimetry. It consists of activation detectors and ionisation chambers. The free-beam neutron spectrum is measured with a set of activation foils of different isotopes irradiated both in a Cd-capsule and without it. Neutron flux (thermal and epithermal) distribution in phantoms is measured using activation of Mn and Au foils, and Cu wire. Ionisation chamber (IC) measurements are performed both in-free-beam and in-phantom for determination of the neutron and gamma dose components. This toolkit has also been used at other BNCT facilities in Europe, the USA, Argentina and Japan.
authors.affiliation: VTT Processes, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1608, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland. Iiro.Auterinen@vtt.fi
authors.forename: Iiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auterinen
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serén
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uusi-Simola
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Sauli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savolainen
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018511:Systems Integration; D014159:Transducers