Neutron capture autoradiography for a study on boron neutron capture therapy

For the study on boron neutron capture therapy, CR-39 plastic track detectors attached with the whole-body sections of tumor bearing mice infused with B-10 were exposed to thermal and cold neutron beams. Neutron capture autoradiographic images obtained by the cold neutron irradiation were extremely superior in quality than that of the thermal neutron beams, which possibly are contaminated by the fast neutron component. The LET distributions of the neutron-induced particles suggested that the fast neutron component was considerably included in the thermal neutron beams used in this study. In addition, the quality of radiographic images obtained by PEW etching is compared with the images on CR-39 etched in a NaOH solution. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.