Computational validation of the stereology principle applied to the microdosimetry of boron neutron capture therapy

• Published in: Medical physics (Lancaster) 2000-03, Vol.27 (3), p.549-557
• Main Authors: Yam, C. S., Zamenhof, R. G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; biological tissues; boron; Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - methods; Cell nucleus; cellular biophysics; Distribution theory and Monte Carlo studies; dosimetry; Dosimetry/exposure assessment; General statistical methods; Helium‐4; Intracellular transport; Lithium - therapeutic use; Monte Carlo Method; Monte Carlo methods; Neutrons; Physicists; Radiation detectors; radiation therapy; radioisotope imaging; radioisotopes; Radiotherapy Dosage; Theory, modeling, and simulations
• ISSN: 0094-2405; 2473-4209
• DOI: 10.1118/1.598922

High resolution quantitative autoradiography (HRQAR) is a novel technique that has been developed in our laboratory and applied to the microdosimetry of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). High resolution quantitative autoradiography is employed to define the microdistribution of boron-10 atoms within a 1–2 μm frozen tissue section. This microdistribution is used as input to a novel two-dimensional Monte Carlo charged particle transport calculation that computes various microdosimetric parameters, such as the number of nuclear “hits,” energy absorbed in the nuclei, etc., within the environment of actual tissue morphology (i.e., cell nuclei, cytoplasm, and intracellular space). Stereological transformation is then implemented to transform the two-dimensional calculations into effectively three-dimensional results. In the present study no seek to demonstrate the validity of the surrogate two-dimensional 2-D computation as being quantitatively equivalent to a hypothetical full 3-D calculation. The results show that within the limitations of the test parameters used the surrogate 2-D and 3-D results are completely equivalent within the statistical constraints of the Monte Carlo calculations. Limitations of this approach also are evaluated, including a Monte Carlo calculation of the influence of the thickness of the histological tissue section and the track detector and the influence of 4 He and 7 Li particle lateral and range straggling.