Measurement of neutron dose equivalent to proton therapy patients outside of the proton radiation field
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2002
Abstract
Measurements of neutron dose equivalent values and neutron spectral fluences close to but outside of the therapeutic proton radiation field are presented. The neutron spectral fluences were determined at five locations with Bonner sphere measurements and established by unfolding techniques. More than 50 additional neutron dose equivalent values were measured with LiI and BF3 thermal neutron detectors surrounded by a 25cm polyethylene moderating sphere. For a large-field treatment, typical values of neutron dose equivalent per therapeutic proton absorbed dose, H/D, at 50cm distance from isocenter, range from 1mSv/Gy (at 0° with respect to the proton beam axis) to 5mSv/Gy (at 90°). Experiments reveal that H/D varies significantly with the treatment technique, e.g., patient orientation, proton beam energy, and range-modulation. The relative uncertainty in H/D values is approximately 40% (one standard deviation). © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
First Page
429
Last Page
434
Recommended Citation
Yan, X., Titt, U., Koehler, A., & Newhauser, W. (2002). Measurement of neutron dose equivalent to proton therapy patients outside of the proton radiation field. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 476 (1-2), 429-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(01)01483-8