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arXiv · 2509.00435

Quantitative imaging of 478-keV prompt gamma rays from boron neutron capture reactions

Tetsuya Mizumoto·Shotaro Komura·Atsushi Takada·Yoshinori Sakurai·Toru Tanimori
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Abstract

The accurate imaging and quantitative measurement of 478-keV prompt gamma rays are critical for advancing boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a promising cancer treatment. Although numerical simulations have indicated that such measurements are feasible, their practical application has proven challenging. This study introduces a gamma-ray imaging detector designed specifically for precise BNCT measurements. Using boron-rich phantom samples, we successfully imaged 478-keV gamma rays and established a linear correlation between gamma-ray production and boron concentration. Furthermore, applying this technique in a recognized BNCT treatment facility demonstrated the detector's effectiveness in monitoring boron dose distribution during neutron irradiation, both in pretreatment diagnostics and throughout the treatment process.

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Tetsuya Mizumoto, Shotaro Komura, Atsushi Takada, Yoshinori Sakurai, Toru Tanimori. 2025-08-30. Quantitative imaging of 478-keV prompt gamma rays from boron neutron capture reactions. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14212-8

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