Irradiation of an Explanted Pig Liver at the HFR Petten

Abstract

As part of a study between the University Hospital Essen and the JRC Petten to assess the feasibility to perform BNCT on an explanted organ (liver) at the HFR, a liver was taken from a pig in the operating theatre for animals at the Central Animal Facility of the Medical Faculty in Essen, and transported by car to Petten. On arrival 3 hours later, the liver was placed into the special PMMA holder and loaded into the custom-built Liver-Irradiation-Facility (LIF). Air supply provided by cold gun sprays gave a temperature of 5¿10 °C around the liver holder throughout the irradiation, which lasted 3 hours exactly. The liver was then brought back to Essen. It was noted that the liver was more radioactive than expected, in comparison to a patient irradiation. The measured radiation level directly following radiation was almost 200µSv/h on contact but after only about 15 minutes, halved to 100µSv/h, due to activated 24Na. The exercise established where improvements are needed, including: writing of Standard Operating Procedures; documentation files fulfilling the legal requirements for human irradiation; a treatment plan; better temperature control, including calibration of the cold guns; but also the need for ready availability of equipment, such as ice and cleansing material (tissue, alcohol, etc.). The overall exercise is one of the first of many procedures, i.e. testing of the transport logistics and the irradiation device (LIF), and should be seen as one of a number of steps needed prior to a full human treatment.JRC.F.7-Energy systems evaluatio