MCNP Analysis of a novel W-181 HDR Brachytherapy Source

Marquez, Kyle

Student Work

MCNP Analysis of a novel W-181 HDR Brachytherapy Source

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The aim of this paper is to evaluate the viability of tungsten-181 by comparing its dosimetric distributions directly to iridium-192, regarded as the current gold standard of brachytherapy. The radial dose function of tungsten-181 and iridium-192 sources can be used to assess the viability of these seeds for brachytherapy treatments. Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 software, a tungsten-181 radioactive seed can be virtually simulated to find the geometry factors and dose rate constant required to calculate the radial dose function. The photon energies can be measured at different increments of 0.500 cm away from the source, all the way to 10 cm away, highlighting the drop off of energies the further away radiation is measured from the source. After obtaining the radial dose function of the simulated tungsten source, it can be compared directly to the radial dose function of an iridium-192 source, to determine its clinical viability. While the simulated tungsten has a relatively consistent radial dose function when taken at different distances away from the source, iridium-192 differentiates less across the same range. This is indicative of an iridium-192 having overall less absorption and less scattering than the Tungsten-181. While tungsten-181 could be viable in some applications, iridium-192 continues to be the best option for brachytherapy cancer treatments.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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