title: Dose determination using alanine detectors in a mixed neutron and gamma field for boron neutron capture therapy of liver malignancies.
abstract: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for liver malignancies is being investigated at the University of Mainz. One important aim is the set-up of a reliable dosimetry system. Alanine dosimeters have previously been applied for dosimetry of mixed radiation fields in antiproton therapy, and may be suitable for measurements in mixed neutron and gamma fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experiments have been carried out in the thermal column of the TRIGA Mark II reactor at the University of Mainz. Alanine dosimeters have been irradiated in a phantom and in liver tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the interpretation and prediction of the dose for each pellet, beside the results of the measurements, calculations with the Monte Carlo code FLUKA are presented here. For the phantom, as well as for the liver tissue, the measured and calculated dose and flux values are in good agreement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alanine dosimeters, in combination with flux measurements and Monte Carlo calculations with FLUKA, suggest that it is possible to establish a system for monitoring the dose in a mixed neutron and gamma field for BNCT and other applications in radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Nuclear Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. schmito@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaickner
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziegner
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassler
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grunewald
authors.forename: Jens V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kratz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langguth
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Palmans
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Holzscheiter
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hampel
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011874:Radiometry
chemical_list: D000409:Alanine