Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

An empirical investigation on radionuclides production in medical linear accelerator treatment room using HPGe detector

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

M. Tourang 1
A. Hadadi 1
M. Athari - Allaf 2
D. Sardari 1
M.R. Zare 3

1 Department of Medical Radiation Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O.Box: 14515-775, Tehran-Iran

2 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box: 14515-775, Tehran-Iran

3 Department of Nuclear Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Postal code: 8174673441, Isfahan -Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2022.1469
Abstract
High energy photons (10-20 MeV) that originate form medical linear accelerator in Radiotherapy treatment room, produce neutron. The produced neutrons id absorbed with different materials in the accelerator, the environment and even patient body that produced radioactive materials. These radioactive materials may pose a risk of radiation exposure to the radiotherapists who go to the treatment room frequently between patients. This process may cause internal radiation exposure in addition to external radiation exposure.  In this research after the expose of 18 MV X-Ray by medical accelerator (Varian 2300C/D), the spectrum of accelerator head was collected by portable HPGe detector and 19 radioisotopes were recognized.

Highlights

 

1. B. Almayahi, Use of Gamma Radiation Techniques in Peaceful Applications, University of Kufa; DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82726; chapter 10.
 
2. P.D. Allen, M.A. Chaudhri, Charged photoparticle production in tissue during radiotherapy, Medical Physics, 24, 837 (1997). doi: 10.1118/1.598004.
 
3. A. Konefa1, et al., Correlation between radioactivity induced inside the treatment room and the undesirable thermal/resonance neutron radiation produced by linac, Physica Medica, 24, 212-218 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2008.01.014.
 
4. Rebecca M. Howell, et al, Secondary neutron spectra from modern Varian, Siemens, and Elekta linacs with multileaf collimators, Medical Physics, 36, 4027 (2009), doi: 10.1118/1.3159300.
 
5. Toshio Ishikawa, et al, Thermalization of Accelerator-Produced Neutrons in a Concrete Room, Healfh Physics, 60 (2), 209-221 (February) (1991).

 

6. Adam Konefał, et al, Measurements of neutron radiation and induced radioactivity for the new medical linear accelerator, the Varian TrueBeam, Radiation Measurements, 86, 8-15 (2016).
 
7. Kinga Polaczek-Grelik, et al, Nuclear reactions in linear medical accelerators and their exposure consequences, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 70, 2332–2339 (2012).
 
8. M. Janiszewska1, et al, Secondary radiation dose during high-energy total body irradiation, Strahlenther Onkol, 190, 459–466 (2014), DOI:10. 1007/s00066-014-0635-z.
 
9. J. Alan Rawlinson, et al, Dose to radiation therapists from activation at high-energy accelerators used for conventional and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, Medical Physics, 29, 598 (2002). http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.1463063.
 
10. Adam Konefał, et al, Thermal and resonance neutrons generated by various electron and X-ray therapeutic beams from medical linacs installed in polish oncological centers, Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy, 17, 339-346 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rpor.2012.06.004.
 
11. J.H. Chao, etal, Estimation of Argon-41 concentrations in the vicinity of a high-energy medical accelerator, Radiation Measurements, 42, 1538 – 1544 (2007).
 
12. Sh. Heydari Fashtali, Amirkabir University master's thesis in the field of nuclear engineering, Radiation Application Trend, February (2013).
 
13. IAEA-TECDOC-1178, Handbook on Photonuclear Data for Applications Cross-sections and Spectra, http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/ te_1178_prn.pdf.
 
14. https://www.oecd-nea.org/janisweb/book/neutrons.

 

  1. https://nuchart.software.informer.com/4.0/.

Keywords

Portable High Purity Ge detector
Medical linear accelerator
Radiotherapy
Treatment room
Radiation protection

  1.  

    1. B. Almayahi, Use of Gamma Radiation Techniques in Peaceful Applications, University of Kufa; DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82726; chapter 10.
     
    2. P.D. Allen, M.A. Chaudhri, Charged photoparticle production in tissue during radiotherapy, Medical Physics, 24, 837 (1997). doi: 10.1118/1.598004.
     
    3. A. Konefa1, et al., Correlation between radioactivity induced inside the treatment room and the undesirable thermal/resonance neutron radiation produced by linac, Physica Medica, 24, 212-218 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2008.01.014.
     
    4. Rebecca M. Howell, et al, Secondary neutron spectra from modern Varian, Siemens, and Elekta linacs with multileaf collimators, Medical Physics, 36, 4027 (2009), doi: 10.1118/1.3159300.
     
    5. Toshio Ishikawa, et al, Thermalization of Accelerator-Produced Neutrons in a Concrete Room, Healfh Physics, 60 (2), 209-221 (February) (1991).

     

    6. Adam Konefał, et al, Measurements of neutron radiation and induced radioactivity for the new medical linear accelerator, the Varian TrueBeam, Radiation Measurements, 86, 8-15 (2016).
     
    7. Kinga Polaczek-Grelik, et al, Nuclear reactions in linear medical accelerators and their exposure consequences, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 70, 2332–2339 (2012).
     
    8. M. Janiszewska1, et al, Secondary radiation dose during high-energy total body irradiation, Strahlenther Onkol, 190, 459–466 (2014), DOI:10. 1007/s00066-014-0635-z.
     
    9. J. Alan Rawlinson, et al, Dose to radiation therapists from activation at high-energy accelerators used for conventional and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, Medical Physics, 29, 598 (2002). http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.1463063.
     
    10. Adam Konefał, et al, Thermal and resonance neutrons generated by various electron and X-ray therapeutic beams from medical linacs installed in polish oncological centers, Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy, 17, 339-346 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rpor.2012.06.004.
     
    11. J.H. Chao, etal, Estimation of Argon-41 concentrations in the vicinity of a high-energy medical accelerator, Radiation Measurements, 42, 1538 – 1544 (2007).
     
    12. Sh. Heydari Fashtali, Amirkabir University master's thesis in the field of nuclear engineering, Radiation Application Trend, February (2013).
     
    13. IAEA-TECDOC-1178, Handbook on Photonuclear Data for Applications Cross-sections and Spectra, http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/ te_1178_prn.pdf.
     
    14. https://www.oecd-nea.org/janisweb/book/neutrons.

     

    1. https://nuchart.software.informer.com/4.0/.

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