Development of a scientific version TPS workflow for BNCT dosimetry based on DICOM and Monte Carlo engine

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a targeted radiotherapy requiring precise dose calculations.
• Existing treatment planning systems (TPS) are often not optimized for research-level dosimetric analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scientific Treatment Planning System (TPS) workflow for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) research.
• To enable accurate dosimetric analysis and treatment plan optimization for BNCT.

Main Methods:

• Developed a research-oriented TPS workflow integrating DICOM phantom reconstruction and Monte Carlo simulations.
• Incorporated Borono-Phenyl-Alanine (BPA) pharmacokinetics and Compound Biological Effectiveness (CBE) factors for dose calculations.
• Evaluated dosimetric differences using four therapeutic neutron beam spectra for intracranial targets.

Main Results:

• The proposed TPS workflow successfully enabled comparative evaluation of BNCT dose components.
• A harder neutron spectrum (45 cm FLUENTAL) improved efficiency for deep tumors.
• A softer spectrum (45 cm MgF2) enhanced dose selectivity for shallow tumors.

Conclusions:

• The developed scientific TPS is a feasible research tool for BNCT dosimetry.
• Optimizing neutron spectra is crucial for improving BNCT treatment efficiency and selectivity.
• This workflow facilitates research into advanced BNCT treatment planning and optimization.