A simple approximation for the evaluation of the photon iso-effective dose in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy based on dose-independent weighting factors. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pedrosa-Rivera, María; Praena, Javier; Porras, Ignacio; Ruiz-Magaña, María José; Ruiz-Ruiz, Carmen
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 157(2020:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Neutron capture therapy -- Photon iso-effective dose -- Treatment planning; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: The current methodology for determining the biological effect of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) has recently been questioned, and a more accurate framework based in the photon iso-effective dose has been proposed. In this work we derive a first order approximation to this quantity. The new approach removes the main drawbacks of the current method, being based on new weighting factors which are true constants (dose independent) but which can be evaluated from published data on the existing (dose-dependent) weighting factors. In addition to this, we apply the formalism to allow the comparison to a fractionated conventional radiotherapy treatment, for which there is a lot of knowledge from clinical practice. As an application, the photon iso-effective dose of a BNCT treatment for a brain tumor is estimated. An excel sheet used for these calculations is also provided as supplementary material and can be used also with user-provided input data for the estimation of the photon iso-effective dose for comparison with conventional radiotherapy, both to single and fractionated treatments. Highlights: A methodology to rewrite the simplest model of the photon iso-effective dose is presented. New weighting factors, which are true constants as a different with those previously used, are defined. An excel sheet for evaluation of the photon iso-effective dose from user provided data is included (supplementary material).