Evaluation: Specific Energy Deposition from 252Cf-Sol-Gel Glass in Brain Interstitial Implants

Abstract

Neutron brachytherapy show better results than conventional photon therapy for radioresistant tumors with hypoxic regions. Herein a comparative radiodosimetric analysis is presented considering 125I photon emitter seeds, often applied to brachytherapy, and a proposed Sol-Gel glass, synthesized with incorporated 252Cf neutron emitter, on a brain tumor implant. The proposition is to verify the viability of applying this bioceramic material. The methodology is based on the investigation of the specific energy deposition (dose) from 252Cf-Glass in deep brain interstitial implants through a stochastic computer code (MCNP5) and comparison with 125I seed’s energy deposition. 252Cf-Glass show dose per transition values higher than 125I seed’s set. RBE-isodose curves show a faster decrease of dose with the source distance increasing which can improve healthy tissue sparing.