title: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in Finland: technological and physical prospects after 20 years of experiences.
abstract: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary radiotherapy method developed to treat patients with certain malignant tumours. To date, over 300 treatments have been carried out at the Finnish BNCT facility in various on-going and past clinical trials. In this technical review, we discuss our research work in the field of medical physics to form the groundwork for the Finnish BNCT patient treatments, as well as the possibilities to further develop and optimize the method in the future. Accordingly, the following aspects are described: neutron sources, beam dosimetry, treatment planning, boron imaging and determination, and finally the possibilities to detect the efficacy and effects of BNCT on patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland. sauli.savolainen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Sauli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kortesniemi
authors.forename: Marjut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timonen
authors.forename: Vappu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reijonen
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuusela
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uusi-Simola
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salli
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koivunoro
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seppälä
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lönnroth
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Välimäki
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyvönen
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kotiluoto
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serén
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuronen
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Iiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auterinen
mesh_terms: D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D005387:Finland; D005544:Forecasting; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical