Filters
Results 1 - 1 of 1
Results 1 - 1 of 1.
Search took: 0.017 seconds
AbstractAbstract
[en] Standard radiotherapy uses Xrays or electrons which have low LET (linear energy transfer); in contrast, particles such as neutrons with high LET have different radiobiological responses. In the late 1960s, clinical trials by Mary Catterall at the Hammersmith Hospital in London indicated that fast neutron radiation had clinical advantages for certain malignant tumours. Following these early clinical trials, several cyclotron facilities were built in the 1980s for fast neutron therapy, for example at the University of Washington, Seattle, and at UCLA. Most of these newer machines use extracted cyclotron proton beams in the range 42 to 66 MeV with beam intensities of 15 to 60 microamps. The proton beams are transported to dedicated therapy rooms, where neutrons are produced from beryllium targets. Second-generation clinical trials showed that accurate neutron beam delivery to the tumour site is more critical than for photon therapy. In order to achieve precise beam geometries, the extracted proton beams have to be transported through a gantry which can rotate around the patient and deliver beams from any angle; also the neutron beam outline (''field shape'') must be adjusted to extremely irregular shapes using a flexible collimation system. A therapy procedure has to be appropriately organized, with physicians, radiotherapists, nurses, medical physicists and other staff in attendance; other specialized equipment, such as CT or MRI scanners and radiation simulators must be made available. Neutron therapy is usually performed only in radiation oncology departments of major medical centres
Primary Subject
Source
INIS-XC--16A0200; Available on-line: http://cds.cern.ch/record/1732414/files/vol35-issue5-p007b-e.pdf; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Record Type
Journal Article
Journal
Country of publication
ACCELERATORS, ALKALINE EARTH METALS, BARYONS, BEAMS, CYCLIC ACCELERATORS, DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES, DISEASES, ELEMENTARY PARTICLES, ELEMENTS, ENERGY RANGE, ENERGY TRANSFER, FERMIONS, HADRONS, MEDICINE, METALS, MEV RANGE, NEUTRONS, NUCLEAR MEDICINE, NUCLEON BEAMS, NUCLEONS, PARTICLE BEAMS, RADIOLOGY, RADIOTHERAPY, TESTING, THERAPY, TOMOGRAPHY
Reference NumberReference Number
INIS VolumeINIS Volume
INIS IssueINIS Issue