Real-time imaging of boron concentration during irradiation
In plain words
Each boron capture emits a gamma ray of a specific energy, which could in principle be used to map the boron during treatment. A working scanner that does this accurately in a patient does not exist.
Precise statement
Image the B-10 concentration in tissue during neutron irradiation through the 478 keV gamma line from the Li-7 excited state, with 10 percent accuracy in concentration, about 5 mm spatial resolution and a frame time of minutes, against the intense background of 2.2 MeV hydrogen-capture gammas and neutron-induced detector activation. An answer is a demonstrated detector and reconstruction method with these figures in a patient-sized phantom.
What would settle it
Phantom measurements with known boron distributions in a clinical epithermal beam showing the stated concentration accuracy and resolution.
Status in the literature
Prompt-gamma tomography prototypes for neutron capture therapy were in development without clinical use.