The Munich Fission Neutron Therapy Facility MEDAPP at the research reactor FRM II.
OBJECTIVE
At the new research reactor FRM II of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the facility for Medical Applications (MEDAPP) was installed where fast neutrons are available as a beam for medical use.


METHODS
Thermal neutrons induce fission in a pair of uranium converter plates and generate fast neutrons which are guided to the patient by a beam tube. The maximum opening of the multi leaf collimator (MLC) is 30x20 cm2 WxH. The beam is characterized by neutron-photon mixed beam phantom dosimetry. Specific safety measures are outlined.


RESULTS
The neutron and gamma dose rates are 0.52 Gy/min and 0.20 Gy/min, respectively, in 2 cm depth of a water phantom. The half maximum depth of the neutron dose rate in water is 5.4 cm (mean neutron energy 1.9+/-0.1 MeV). Conformity with the European Medical Devices Directive (MDD) 93/42/EEG, was proven so that MEDAPP has a CE mark and since February 2007 also the license for clinical operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical neutron irradiations of malignant tumors, which were performed at the former research reactor FRM until 2000, can be continued at FRM II under improved conditions. First patients were irradiated in June 2007.
Wagner
Franz M
FM
Forschungsneutronenquell Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II), Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany. franz.wagner@frm2.tum.de
Kneschaurek
Peter
P
Kastenmüller
Anton
A
Loeper-Kabasakal
Birgit
B
Kampfer
Severin
S
Breitkreutz
Harald
H
Waschkowski
Wolfgang
W
Molls
Michael
M
Petry
Winfried
W
D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009680:Nuclear Fission; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012106:Research; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D014501:Uranium
D014501:Uranium