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.
@article{arxiv.2509.00435,
title = {Quantitative imaging of 478-keV prompt gamma rays from boron neutron capture reactions},
author = {Tetsuya Mizumoto and Shotaro Komura and Atsushi Takada and Yoshinori Sakurai and Toru Tanimori},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.00435},
year = {2025}
}