Gadolinium neutron capture therapy for brain tumors: a computer study.

Abstract

A Monte Carlo computer study of the total dose distribution from neutrons and prompt gamma emissions (but excluding the contribution from conversion and Auger electrons) for gadolinium neutron capture therapy of brain tumors has been carried out in order to test the theoretic feasibility of this modality using commercially available magnetic resonance contrast media. The three-dimensional dose distribution calculations were performed in a spherical head phantom with a spherical tumor at the center. Potentially achievable gadolinium concentrations of 150 micrograms/g of tissue in tumor and 3 micrograms/g in normal tissue were assumed with enrichment to 79.9% gadolinium-157, as supplied by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Irradiation was assumed to be with a 2-keV monoenergetic cylindrical epithermal neutron beam having a radius of 4 cm. The three-dimensional thermal neutron fluence resulting from the 2-keV beam propagation through the tissue was modeled. For a single neutron beam, the maximum dose is delivered within the tumor but the dose is very inhomogeneous across the tumor volume due to rapid decrease of thermal neutron fluence with depth. Two parallel opposed neutron beams deliver to the interface of normal and malignant tissue 70%-80% of the maximum dose received at the center of the tumor. To deliver an average tumor dose of 500 cGy in 10 min would require a 2-keV source neutrons number of 8.0 x 10(11) per s within the geometry of the beam.