RBE and clinical response in radiotherapy with neutron beams. 1984

F Ellis, and H Weatherburn

Consideration of the clinical results reported, when a cyclotron produced neutron beam was used for treatments in the pelvis region, suggested that a constant RBE of 3 should not have been used for all neutron doses. Instead a variable RBE, which increased from approximately 3 to 8 (with decreasing dose), should have been used. Although some of these RBE values are much higher than 3, they have been observed in clinical practice. An "equivalent photon" isodose plan was produced by employing a variable RBE and, by taking a TDF limit of 86 for bowel, an isoeffect plan was produced. This shows that in the clinical situation under consideration much of the pelvis was overdosed. Doses to tumour cells and late effects are also briefly considered. It is suggested that, in neutron therapy, both an "equivalent photon" isodose plan and an isoeffect plan should be produced prior to treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007420 Intestine, Large A segment of the LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT that includes the CECUM; the COLON; and the RECTUM. Large Intestine
D009502 Neutrons Electrically neutral elementary particles found in all atomic nuclei except light hydrogen; the mass is equal to that of the proton and electron combined and they are unstable when isolated from the nucleus, undergoing beta decay. Slow, thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons refer to the energy levels with which the neutrons are ejected from heavier nuclei during their decay. Neutron
D010386 Pelvic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the pelvic region. Cancer of Pelvis,Pelvic Cancer,Cancer of the Pelvis,Neoplasms of Pelvis,Pelvis Cancer,Pelvis Neoplasms,Cancer, Pelvic,Cancer, Pelvis,Cancers, Pelvic,Cancers, Pelvis,Neoplasm, Pelvic,Neoplasm, Pelvis,Neoplasms, Pelvic,Neoplasms, Pelvis,Pelvic Cancers,Pelvic Neoplasm,Pelvis Cancers,Pelvis Neoplasm
D011882 Radiotherapy, High-Energy Radiotherapy using high-energy (megavolt or higher) ionizing radiation. Types of radiation include gamma rays, produced by a radioisotope within a teletherapy unit; x-rays, electrons, protons, alpha particles (helium ions) and heavy charged ions, produced by particle acceleration; and neutrons and pi-mesons (pions), produced as secondary particles following bombardment of a target with a primary particle. Megavolt Radiotherapy,High-Energy Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy, Megavolt,High Energy Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy, High Energy
D012062 Relative Biological Effectiveness The ratio of radiation dosages required to produce identical change based on a formula comparing other types of radiation with that of gamma or roentgen rays. Biological Effectiveness, Relative,Effectiveness, Biologic Relative,Effectiveness, Biological Relative,Relative Biologic Effectiveness,Biologic Effectiveness, Relative,Biologic Relative Effectiveness,Biological Relative Effectiveness,Effectiveness, Relative Biologic,Effectiveness, Relative Biological,Relative Effectiveness, Biologic
D004307 Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation The relationship between the dose of administered radiation and the response of the organism or tissue to the radiation. Dose Response Relationship, Radiation,Dose-Response Relationships, Radiation,Radiation Dose-Response Relationship,Radiation Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Radiation Dose-Response,Relationships, Radiation Dose-Response
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
June 1985, The British journal of radiology,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
July 2014, Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB),
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
January 1983, Acta radiologica. Oncology,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
October 1981, The British journal of radiology,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
February 1992, Radiation research,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
May 1974, European journal of cancer,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
July 1973, Radiology,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
January 1996, Bulletin du cancer. Radiotherapie : journal de la Societe francaise du cancer : organe de la societe francaise de radiotherapie oncologique,
F Ellis, and H Weatherburn
September 2015, Radiation protection dosimetry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!