The effect of missing backscatter on the dose distribution of a p(66)Be(49) neutron therapy beam

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Abstract
The dose reduction in phantom due to missing backscattering material was measured on and off the central axis of a p(66)Be(49) neutron beam. The doses at different depths in phantom for various field sizes are found to drop by 4%–10% relative to full backscatter conditions when backscattering material is removed. A simple algorithm that predicts the magnitude of this drop on the basis of equivalent square size of the beam is presented. The algorithm may be used to correct the dose (usually computed from data obtained with full backscatter) at all points near the exit side of a phantom or patient.
Funding Information
  • National Cancer Institute (5PO1CA81081-07)