GADOLINIUM NEUTRON-CAPTURE THERAPY

A computer study of the dose distribution for gadolinium neutron capture therapy is carried out to determine its feasibility. Gadolinium is a potential neutron capture therapy (NCT) agent that produces gamma radiation, con version electrons, and Auger electrons. The dose distribution from neutrons, neutron-induced gammas, and the reaction products from neutron capture in gadolinium were modeled using the Los Alamos National Laboratory Monte Carlo neutron photon computer code. The results of these calculations are that gadolinium has promise as an NCT agent. Using two parallel opposed epithermal neutron beams for a tumor at an 8.0-cm depth with a gadolinium loading of 100 mug/g, the tumor to peak normal tissue dose was determined to be 1.48.