A 13C(d,n)-based epithermal neutron source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

PurposeBoron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) requires neutron sources suitable for in-hospital siting. Low-energy particle accelerators working in conjunction with a neutron producing reaction are the most appropriate choice for this purpose. One of the possible nuclear reactions is ¹³C(d,n)¹⁴N. The aim of this work is to evaluate the therapeutic capabilities of the neutron beam produced by this reaction, through a 30 mA beam of deuterons of 1.45 MeV.MethodsA Beam Shaping Assembly design was computationally optimized. Depth dose profiles in a Snyder head phantom were simulated with the MCNP code for a number of BSA configurations. In order to optimize the treatment capabilities, the BSA configuration was determined as the one that allows maximizing both the tumor dose and the penetration depth while keeping doses to healthy tissues under the tolerance limits.ResultsSignificant doses to tumor tissues were achieved up to ∼6 cm in depth. Peak doses up to 57 Gy-Eq can be delivered in a fractionated scheme of 2 irradiations of approximately 1 h each. In a single 1 h irradiation, lower but still acceptable doses to tumor are also feasible.ConclusionsTreatment capabilities obtained here are comparable to those achieved with other accelerator-based neutron sources, making of the ¹³C(d,n)¹⁴N reaction a realistic option for producing therapeutic neutron beams through a low-energy particle accelerator.