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Updated: May 28, 2026

Dosimetry for Cell Irradiation using Orthovoltage (40-300 kV) X-Ray Facilities
Published on: February 20, 2021
Response functions for computing absorbed dose to skeletal tissues from neutron irradiation.
Amir A Bahadori1, Perry Johnson1, Derek W Jokisch2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
This study introduces new methods for calculating radiation dose to active marrow (AM) and total shallow marrow (TM(50)) in human bone. It provides specific recommendations for using kerma coefficients and dose-response functions (DRFs) based on neutron energy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Dosimetry
- Skeletal Biology
Background:
- Spongiosa, comprising active marrow (AM), inactive marrow (IM), and trabecularized mineral bone (TB), is crucial for assessing radiation risks.
- AM is the primary target for leukemia risk and marrow toxicity, while total shallow marrow (TM(50)) is relevant for bone cancer induction.
- Current methods use homogeneous spongiosa kerma as a surrogate for absorbed dose, but this lacks accuracy for complex microstructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop accurate neutron dose-response functions (DRFs) for AM and TM(50) using detailed spongiosa microstructure.
- To compare calculated DRFs with kerma coefficients across a range of neutron energies.
- To provide energy-dependent recommendations for estimating skeletal tissue doses from neutron irradiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized micro-CT imaging to create detailed models of adult human spongiosa microstructure.
- Computed specific absorbed fraction (SAF) values for protons within these detailed models.
- Integrated SAFs, bone properties, and cross-section data to construct neutron DRFs for AM and TM(50) targets.
Main Results:
- Calculated AM and TM(50) kerma coefficients and DRFs for various skeletal sites.
- Observed good correlation between AM kerma coefficients and AM DRFs at low neutron energies (<10 eV).
- Found that kerma coefficients and DRFs converge at high neutron energies (>100 MeV) due to charged-particle equilibrium.
Conclusions:
- Recommended using AM kerma coefficients for AM DRF estimation below 10 eV and TM kerma coefficients for TM(50) DRF estimation below 10 eV.
- Advised using the study's specific DRF values between 10 eV and 100 MeV for accurate dose estimation.
- Concluded that spongiosa kerma coefficients are suitable for estimating skeletal doses above 100 MeV.
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