RADIATION PROTECTION ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 250-263.doi: 10.27045/j.1000-8187.202603008

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Monte Carlo simulation study on dosimetry of BNCT treatment for glioma

LI Boning1, WANG Xiaojuan1, FANG Qinlong1, YUAN Lin1, WANG Boyu1,2,3, LI Zhuo1,2,3, LIU Yang1,2,3   

  1. 1. School of Science, Xi′an Polytechnic University,Xi′an 710048;
    2. College of Nuclear Engineering and Technology,Gansu Vocational University of Industry Technology, Gansu Tianshui 741025;
    3. Gansu Mechantronics Research Institute of Nuclear Industry, Gansu Tianshui 741025
  • Received:2025-05-13 Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-06-18

Abstract: In this study, based on the neutron source of the Xi′an Pulsed Reactor, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to systematically investigate the beam shaping assembly (BSA) design and dosimetric characteristics for BNCT treatment of brain glioma. Under the constraints of the beam quality criteria recommended by the IAEA, key components of the BSA—including the moderator, reflector, collimation system, thermal neutron absorber, and gamma filter—were optimized, resulting in an epithermal neutron beam configuration centered on an AlF3 moderator. Furthermore, a Snyder ellipsoidal head phantom and a corresponding tumor-bearing model were constructed to calculate and analyze the spatial distributions of boron capture dose, thermal neutron dose, fast neutron dose, and gamma dose under different boron concentrations. The results indicate that a BSA configuration consisting of an AlF3 moderator (~60 cm), a Pb reflector (~15 cm), a 50 cm collimator, Gd thermal neutron absorber (0.3 cm/0.1 cm), and a 5 cm Bi gamma filter can provide an epithermal neutron flux that satisfies therapeutic requirements. A pronounced peak of boron capture dose is formed within the tumor region and increases significantly with increasing boron concentration, while the non-selective dose components remain essentially unchanged. Based on the evaluation of the total biologically weighted dose, the corresponding dose rates and treatment times for different boron concentrations were determined. These results provide a reliable theoretical basis for reactor-based BNCT beam design and dosimetric optimization in the treatment of brain glioma.

Key words: boron neutron capture therapy, glioma, absorbed dose rate, snyder model, Monte Carlo simulation

CLC Number: 

  • TL99