BNCT dose distribution in liver with epithermal D–D and D–T fusion-based neutron beams

Recently, a new application of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) treatment has been introduced. Results have indicated that liver tumors can be treated by BNCT after removal of the liver from the body. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, compact neutron generators based on 2H(d,n)3He (D–D) or 3H(t,n)4He (D–T) fusion reactions are being developed. Preliminary simulations of the applicability of 2.45 MeV D–D fusion and 14.1 MeV D–T fusion neutrons for in vivo liver tumor BNCT, without removing the liver from the body, have been carried out. MCNP simulations were performed in order to find a moderator configuration for creating a neutron beam of optimal neutron energy and to create a source model for dose calculations with the simulation environment for radiotherapy applications (SERA) treatment planning program. SERA dose calculations were performed in a patient model based on CT scans of the body. The BNCT dose distribution in liver and surrounding healthy organs was calculated with rectangular beam aperture sizes of 20 cm×20 cm and 25 cm×25 cm. Collimator thicknesses of 10 and 15 cm were used. The beam strength to obtain a practical treatment time was studied. In this paper, the beam shaping assemblies for D–D and D–T neutron generators and dose calculation results are presented.