SU-E-T-268: Evaluation of Photoneutron Contamination in Elekta Synergy-S High-Energy Linear Accelerator and Indigenous Novel Solution: The AIIMS Experience.

Abstract

The photoneutron contamination problem was encountered due to laminated barrier wall and short maze. The purpose of this study was to report our experience in evaluating the photoneutron contamination during radiation safety survey and solution. The photoneutron contamination measurement was carried out in Elekta Synergy-S high-energylinear accelerator for 15MV beam. A NE Neutron survey meter and for photon, Victoreen and RADOS survey meters were used. The laminated barrier wall composed of 37cm steel with 30cm concrete both side and short maze length of 5 meter. During safety survey, higher photoneutron levels for 15MV X-rays at treatment room door found. The effect of photoneutron contamination as function of neutron shielding materials of wood, polyethylene and boron and thickness, distance, locations and directions to the control console at distance upto 7 meter were investigated for 4 gantry angles at locations of treatment room entry doors namely door1(A), door2(B), console(C), conduit (D) and above-ceiling(G) for 15MV. The initial safety survey showed that neutron level of 47mR/h and photon leakage of 3.2mR/hr at the treatment entry room door1. The neutron values could bring down to the level of acceptance at the treatment entry door2, but the photon values are not acceptable. Therefore, 30cm concrete wall block was made at the location of door2 and another bend was taken. Finally, treatment entrance room door was made using 3cm polyethylene neutron shielding materials in order to achieve the both neutron contamination and photon leakage within the acceptable levels. The neutron sliding-door is operated manually in finger-push by technologist for day-to-day usage. This simple solution is cost effective and increases the patient throughput. This study underlines that one needs to take appropriate safety measures prior to facility design whenever the space constraints situations arises for high energy linear accelerator.