Summary
An ICRU report entitled “Nuclear Data for Neutron and Proton Radiotherapy and for Radiation Protection” is in preparation. The present paper presents an overview of this report, along with examples of some of the results obtained for evaluated nuclear cross sections and kerma coefficients. These cross sections are evaluated using a combination of measured data and the GNASH nuclear model code for elements of importance for biological, dosimetric, beam modification and shielding purposes. In the case of hydrogen both R-matrix and phase-shift scattering theories are used. In the report neutron cross sections and kerma coefficients will be presented up to 150 MeV and proton cross sections up to 250 MeV.
An IAEA Consultants’ Meeting was also convened to examine the “Status of Nuclear Data needed for Radiation Therapy and Existing Data Development Activities in Member States”. Recommendations were made regarding future endeavours.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awschalom M, Rosenberg I, Mravca A. Kerma for various substances averaged over the spectra of fast neutron therapy beams: a study in uncertainties. Med Phys 1983;10:395–409.
Benck, S, Slypen I, Meulders J-P, et al. Light charged particle production induced by fast neutrons on carbon, oxygen and aluminium. In: Reffo G, Ed. Proc of the International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology, Trieste, Italy, 1997. Bologna, Italy: ENEA (in press).
Bertrand FE, Peelle RW. Complete hydrogen and helium particle spectra from 30 to 60 MeV proton bombardment on nuclei with A=12 to 209 and comparison with the intranuclear cascade model. Phys Rev 1973;8:1045–64.
Binns PJ. Personal Communication, 1998.
Brenner DJ, Prael RE. Calculated differential secondary-particle production cross sections after nonelastic neutron interactions with carbon and oxygen between 15 and 60 MeV. Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables 1989;41:71–130.
Caswell RS, Coyne JJ, Randolph ML. Kerma factors for neutron energies below 30 MeV. Rad Res 1980;83:217–54.
Chadwick MB, Blann M, Cox LJ, et al. Calculation and evaluation of cross sections and kerma factors for neutrons up to 100 MeV on carbon. Nucl Sci Eng 1996;123:17–37.
Chadwick MB, Young PG. Calculation and evaluation of cross sections and kerma factors for neutrons up to 100 MeV on16O and14N. Nucl Sci Eng 1996;123:1–16.
Chadwick MB, Young PG, MacFarlane RE, et al. Cross section evaluations to 150 MeV for accelerator-driven systems and implementation in MCNPX. Nucl Sci Eng (submitted 1998).
Cowley AA. Personal Communication, 1997.
Dimbylow PJ. Neutron cross-section and kerma value calculations for C, N, O, Mg, Al, P. S, Ar and Ca from 20 to 50 MeV. Phys Med Biol 1982;27:989–1001.
Förtsch SV, Cowley AA, Pilcher JV, et al. Continuum yields from12C(p-p) at incident proton energies of 90 and 200 MeV. Nucl Phys 1988;A485:258–70.
Haight RC, Lee TM, Sterbenz SM, et al. Alpha-particle emission from carbon bombarded with neutrons below 30 MeV. In: Dickens JK, Ed. Proc of the International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology, Gatlinburg, TN. La Grange Park IL: American Nuclear Society 1994:311–3
ICRU Report 45. Clinical neutron dosimetry. Part 1: Determination of absorbed dose in a patient treated by external beams of fast neutrons. Bethesda, MD: International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, 1989.
ICRU Report 59. Clinical proton dosimetry. Part 1: Beam production, beam delivery and measurement of absorbed dose. Bethesda MD: International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, 1997.
McDonald JC, Cummings FM. Calorimetric measurements of carbon and A-150 plastic kerma factors for 14.6 MeV neutrons. Rad Prot Dosim 1988;23:31–3.
Meier MM, Clark DA, Goulding CA, et al. Differential neutron production cross sections and neutron yields from stopping-length targets for 113-MeV protons. Nucl Sci Eng 1989;102:310–21.
Meier MM, Amian WB, Goulding CA, et al. Differential neutron-production cross-sections for 256 MeV protons. Nucl Sci Eng 1992;110:289–98.
Menzel H, Bhler G, Schuhmacher H, et al. Ionization distributions and A-150 plastic kerma for neutrons between 13.9 and 19.0 MeV measured with a low pressure proportional counter. Phys Med Biol 1984;29:1537–54.
Mijnheer BJ, Wootton P, Williams JR, et al. Uniformity in dosimetry protocols for therapeutic applications of fast neutron beams. Med Phys 1987;14:1020–6.
Nauchi Y, Baba M, Sanami T, et al. Measurement of (n,xp) and (n,xd) double differential cross sections of Al and C for ten’s MeV neutrons. In: Reffo G, Ed. Proc of the International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology, Trieste, Italy, 1997. Bologna, Italy: ENEA (in press).
Pihet P, Guldbakke S, Menzel HG, et al. Measurement of kerma factors for carbon and A-150 plastic: neutron energies from 13.9 to 20.0 MeV. Phys Med Biol 1992;37:1957–76.
Schrewe UJ, Brede HJ, Gerdung S, et al. Determination of kerma factors of A-150 plastic and carbon at neutron energies between 45 and 66 MeV. Rad Prot Dosim 1992;44:21–4.
Schrewe UJ, Newhauser WD, Brede HJ, et al. Neutron kerma factor measurements in the energy range between 5 MeV and 66 MeV. In: Reffo G, Ed. Proc of the International Conference on Nuclear Data for Science and Technology, Trieste, Italy, 1997. Bologna, Italy: ENEA (in press).
Schuhmacher H, Brede HJ, Henneck R, et al. Measurement of neutron kerma factors for carbon and A-150 plastic at neutron energies of 26.3 MeV and 37.8 MeV. Phys Med Biol 1992;37:1265–81.
Slypen I, Corcalciuc V, Meulders J-P. Proton and deuteron production in neutron-induced reactions on carbon at En=42.5, 62.7 and 72.8 MeV. Phys Rev 1995;C51:1303–11.
Slypen I, Corcalciuc V, Meulders J-P, et al. Triton and alpha-particle production in neutron-induced reactions on carbon at En=42.5 MeV, 62.7 MeV and 72.8 MeV. Phys Rev 1996;C53:1309–18.
Subramanian JL, Romero JL, Brady FP, et al. Double differential inclusive hydrogen and helium spectra from neutron-induced reactions on carbon at 27.4, 39.7 and 60.7 MeV. Phys Rev 1983;C28:521–8.
Subramanian TS, Romero JL, Brady, FP, et al. Double differential inclusive hydrogen and helium spectra from neutron-induced reactions at 27.4, 39.7 and 60.7 MeV: oxygen and nitrogen. Phys Rev 1986;C34:1580–7.
Wuu C, Milavickas L. Determination of the kerma factors in tissue-equivalent plastic, C, Mg and Fe for 14.7. MeV neutrons. Med Phys 1987;14:1007–14.
Young PG, Arthur ED, Chadwick MB. Comprehensive nuclear model calculations: introduction to the theory and use of the GNASH code. Technical Report LA-12343-MS. Los Alamos NM: Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1992.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chadwick, M.B., Jones, D.T.L., Barschall, H.H. et al. Nuclear data for radiotherapy: Presentation of a new ICRU report and IAEA initiatives. Strahlenther Onkol 175 (Suppl 2), 26–29 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03038882
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03038882