Quantitative imaging of 478-keV prompt gamma rays from boron neutron capture reactions

TL;DR

This paper presents a specialized gamma-ray imaging detector for precise measurement of 478-keV prompt gamma rays in BNCT, enabling accurate boron dose monitoring during cancer treatment.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel gamma-ray detector tailored for BNCT, demonstrating successful imaging and dose monitoring in phantom and clinical settings.

Findings

Successful imaging of 478-keV gamma rays from boron reactions

Established linear correlation between gamma-ray counts and boron concentration

Effective in vivo boron dose monitoring during BNCT treatments

Abstract

The accurate imaging and quantitative measurement of 478-keV prompt gamma rays are critical for advancing boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a promising cancer treatment. Although numerical simulations have indicated that such measurements are feasible, their practical application has proven challenging. This study introduces a gamma-ray imaging detector designed specifically for precise BNCT measurements. Using boron-rich phantom samples, we successfully imaged 478-keV gamma rays and established a linear correlation between gamma-ray production and boron concentration. Furthermore, applying this technique in a recognized BNCT treatment facility demonstrated the detector's effectiveness in monitoring boron dose distribution during neutron irradiation, both in pretreatment diagnostics and throughout the treatment process.