Point kernel 1H(n,γ)2H dose calculations in BNCT

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a potential treatment modality for the fatal brain glioblastoma multiforme. Successful BNCT will require calculation of the expected relative biological effectiveness dose distribution in the patient's head prior to treatment. The method most often proposed for calculating dose distributions in BNCT is the Monte Carlo simulation technique. However, Monte Carlo calculations require a large amount of computer time to achieve good statistics if the dose is determined at many points within the head. In BNCT, a significant amount of radiation dose is deposited by 2.2-MeV gamma rays produced in the hydrogen capture interaction 1H(n,γ)2H. To develop a faster calculational system, the absorbed dose deposited by these gamma rays was determined by the faster point kernel method and compared with Monte Carlo calculated results