• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2010

In this study, we evaluated the dose response of MAGAT (Methacrylic Acid Gelatin gel and THPC) normoxic polymer gel dosimeters based on the X-ray CT scanner. To perform this study, we determined the proper ratio of the gel composition and acquired X-ray scan parameters. MAGAT gel dosimeters were manufactured using MAA (MethacrylicAcid) and gelatin of various concentration, irradiated up to 20 Gy. We obtained the 20 CT images from the irradiated gel dosimeters by using on a Phillips Brilliance Big Bore CT scanner with the various scan parameters. This CT images were used to determine the $N_{CT}$-dose response, dose sensitivity and dose resolution As an amount of MAA and gelatin were increase, the slope and intercept were increase in each MAGAT gel dosimeter with various concentration of the $N_{CT}$-dose response curve. The dose sensitivity was $0.38{\pm}0.08$ to $0.859{\pm}0.1$ and increased were amount of the MAA was increased or the gelatin was decreased. However, the change of gelatin concentration was very small compare to MAA. The Dose resolution ($D_{\Delta}^{95%}$) varies considerably from 2.6 to 6 Gy, dependent on dose resolution and CT image noise. The slope and dose sensitivity was almost ident verywith the variation of the tube voltage, tube current and slice thickness in the dose response curve, but the noise (standard deviation of averamalg CT number) was decreased when the tube voltage, tube current and slice thickness are increase. The optimal MAGAT polymer gel dosimeter based on the CT were evaluated to determine the CT imaging scan parameters of the maximum tube voltage, tube current and slice thickness (commonly used in clinical) using the composition ratio of a 9% MAA, 8% gelatin and 83% water. This study could get proper composition ratio and scan parameter evaluating dose response of MAGAT normoxic polymer gel dosimeter using CT scanner.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.229-233
• /
• 2015

We retrospectively reviewed lung cancer patients who were treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). We investigated the value of response evaluation after treatment by measuring the volume change of tumors on serial chest computed tomography (CT) examinations. The study included 11 consecutive patients with early-stage (T1-T2aN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with SABR. The median dose of SABR was 6,000 cGy (range 5,000~6,400) in five fractions. Sequential follow-up was performed with chest CT scans. Median follow-up time was 28 months. Radiologic measurement was performed on 51 CT scans with a median of 3 CT scans per patient. The median time to partial response ($T_{PR}$) was 3 months and median time to complete remission ($T_{CR}$) was 5 months. Overall response rate was 90.9% (10/11). Five patients had complete remission, five had partial response, and one patient developed progressive disease without response. On follow-up, three patients (27.2%) developed progressive disease after treatment. We evaluated the the response after SABR. Our data also showed the timing of response after SABR.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.117-125
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between early treatment response to definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and survival outcome in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with LS-SCLC who received definitive CRT between January 2009 and December 2012. Patients were treated with systemic chemotherapy regimen of etoposide/carboplatin (n = 15) or etoposide/cisplatin (n = 32) and concurrent thoracic radiotherapy at a median dose of 54 Gy (range, 46 to 64 Gy). Early treatment volume reduction rate (ETVRR) was defined as the percentage change in gross tumor volume between diagnostic computed tomography (CT) and simulation CT for adaptive RT planning and was used as a parameter for early treatment response. The median dose at adaptive RT planning was 36 Gy (range, 30 to 43 Gy), and adaptive CT was performed in 30 patients (63.8%). Results: With a median follow-up of 27.7 months (range, 5.9 to 75.8 months), the 2-year locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 74.2% and 56.5%, respectively. The mean diagnostic and adaptive gross tumor volumes were 117.9 mL (range, 5.9 to 447 mL) and 36.8 mL (range, 0.3 to 230.6 mL), respectively. The median ETVRR was 71.4% (range, 30 to 97.6%) and the ETVRR >45% group showed significantly better OS (p < 0.0001) and LRPFS (p = 0.009) than the other group. Conclusion: ETVRR as a parameter for early treatment response may be a useful prognostic factor to predict treatment outcome in LS-SCLC patients treated with CRT.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 1993

From September 1989 to June 1992,22 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated in Asan Medical Center with an external beam of 60 Gy followed by a boost dose of 15 Gy HDR brachytherapy. There were 5 females and 17 males with median age of 44 years (range: 20-69 years). All patients were histologically confirmed and staged by physical examination, CT scan and/or MRI. By the AJCC TNM staging system, there were 2 patients with stge II (T2NO), 4 with stage III (T3NO, T1-3N1), and 16 with stage IV (T4 or N2-3). Four patients received chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin prior to radiotherapy. All patients were followed up periodically by a telescopic examination and radiologic imaging study of CT scan or MRI with a median follow-up time of 13 months (range: 3-34 months). Twenty one patients showed a complete response ore month after completing therapy and one patient showed a complete response after three months. At the time of this analysis, seventeen patients remain alive without evidence of disease, but four patients developed distant metastasis and one patient died a month after treatment. The local control rate was $100{\%}$ in a median follow-up time of 13 months. The two year overall and disease free survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method were $94{\%}$ and $67{\%}$, respectively. Serious radiation sequelae have not been observed yet. Although longer follow-up is needed, this retrospective analysis suggests that HDR brachytherap. given as a boost therapy for nasoharyngeal carcinoma may improve the local control. To reduce the incidence of distant metastasis, we need to develop a more effective systemic chemotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.251-256
• /
• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate efficacy and complication of stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame. Methods and Materials :From December 1997 to June 1999, 11 patients with primary and metastatic tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame(Precision TherapyTu). Three patients were treated with primary hepatoma and seven with metastatic tumor from liver, lung, breast, trachea and one with arteriovenous malformation on neck. We used vacuum pillow for immobilization and made skin marker on sternum and tibia area with chest marker and leg marker. Diaphragm control was used for reducing movement by respiration. CT-simulation and treatment planning were peformed. Set-up error was checked by CT-Simulator before each treatment. Dose were calculated on the 80$\~$90$\%$ isodose of isocenter dose and given consecutive 3 fractions for total dose of 30 Gy (10 Gy/fraction). Results :Median follow-up was 12 months. One patient (9$\%$) showed complete response and four Patients (36$\%$) showed partial response and others showed stable disease. Planning target volumes (PTV) ranged from 3 to 111 cc (mean 18.4 n). Set-up error was within 5 mm in all directions (X, Y, Z axis). There was no complication in all patients. Conclusion :In Primary and metastatic tumors, stereotactic body frame is very safe, accurate and effective treatment modality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.213-221
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The objective of this retrospective study was to identify predictive factors for the complete pathologic response and tumor downstaging after preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Between the years 2000 and 2008, 39 patients with newly diagnosed rectal cancer without prior evidence of distant metastasis received preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, $45{\sim}59.4\;Gy$)). Thirty-eight patients received concurrent infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, while one patient received oral capecitabine twice daily during radiotherapy. Results: A complete pathologic response (CR) was demonstrated in 12 of 39 patients (31%), while T-downstaging was observed in 24 of 39 patients (63%). N-downstaging was observed in 18 of 28 patients (64%), with a positive node in the CT scan or ultrasound. Two patients with clinical negative nodes were observed in surgical specimens. The results from a univariate analysis indicated that the tumor circumferential extent was less than 50% (p=0.031). Moreover, the length of the tumor was less than 5 cm (p=0.004), while the post-treatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were less than or equal to 3.0 ng/mL (p=0.015) and were significantly associated with high pathologic CR rates. The univariate analysis also indicated that the adenocarcinoma (p=0.045) and radiation dose greater than or equal to 50 Gy (p=0.021) were significantly associated with high T-downstaging, while a radiotherapy duration of less than or equal to 42 days (p=0.018) was significantly associated with N-downstaging. The results from the multivariate analysis indicated that the lesser circumferential extent of the tumor (hazard ratio [HR] 0.150; p=0.028) and shorter tumor length (HR, 0.084; p=0.005) independently predicted a higher pathologic CR. The multivariate analysis also indicated that a higher radiation dose was significantly associated with higher T-downstaging (HR, 0.115; p=0.025), while the shorter duration of radiotherapy was significantly associated with higher N-downstaging (HR, 0.028; p=0.010). Conclusion: The circumferential extent of the tumor and its length was a predictor for the pathologic CR, while radiation dose and duration of radiotherapy were predictors for tumor downstaging. Hence, these factors may be used to predict outcomes for patients and to develop further treatment guidelines for high-risk patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.100-107
• /
• 1999

Purpose: This is to evaluate the acute complication, resection rate, and tumor down-staging after pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods Fifteen patients with non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled in this study from May 1997 to June 1998 in Samsung Medical Center. The median age of the patients was 61 (range, 45~67) years and male to female ratio was 12:3. Pathologic types were squamous cell carcinoma (11) and adenocarcinoma (4). Pre-operative clinical tumor stages were cT1 in 2 patients, cT2 in T2, and cT3 in 1 and all were N2. Ten patients were proved to be N2 with mediastinoscopic biopsy and five had clinically evident mediastinal Iymph node metastases on the chest CT scans. Pre-operative radiation therapy field included the primary tumor, the ipsilateral hilum, and the mediastinum. Total radiation dose was 45 Gy over 5 weeks with daily dose of 1.8 Gy. Pre-operative concurrent chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of intravenous cis-Platin (100 mg/m$^{2}$) on day 1 and oral Etoposide (50 mg/m$^{2}$/day) on days 1 through 14 with 4 weeks' interval. Surgery was followed after the pre-operative re-evaluation including chest CT scan in 3 weeks of the completion of the concurrent chemoradiotherapy if there was no evidence of disease progression. Results : Full dose radiation therapy was administered to all the 15 patients. Planned two cycles of chemotherapy was completed in 11 patients and one cycle was given to four. One treatment related death of acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred In 15 days of surgery. Hospital admission was required in three patients including one with radiation pneumonitis and two with neutropenic fever. Hematologic complications and other acute complications including esophagitis were tolerable. Resection rate was 92.3% (12/l3) in 13 patients excluding two patients who refused surgery. Pleural seeding was found in one patient after thoracotomy and tumor resection was not feasible. Post-operative tumor stagings were pT0 in 3 patients, pTl in 6, and pT2 in 3. Lymph node status findings were pN0 in 8 patients, pN1 in 1, and pN2 in 3. Pathologic tumor down-staging was 61.5% (8/13) including complete response in three patients ($23.7%). Tumor stage was unchanged in four patients (30.8%) and progression was in one (7.7%). Conclusions : Pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for Stage IIIA (N2) non-small cell lung cancer demonstrated satisfactory results with no increased severe acute complications. This treatment shceme deserves more patinet accrual with long-term follow-up.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2015

Bone changes are common sequela of irradiation in growing animal. The purpose of this study was to establish an experimental model of radiation-induced bone loss in growing mice using micro-computed tomography (${\mu}CT$). The extent of changes following 2 Gy gamma irradiation ($2Gy{\cdot}min^{-1}$) was studied at 4, 8 or 12 weeks after exposure. Mice that received 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 Gy of gamma-rays were examined 8 weeks after irradiation. Tibiae were analyzed using ${\mu}CT$. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and biomechanical properties were measured and the osteoclast surface was examined. A significant loss of trabecular bone in tibiae was evident 8 weeks after exposure. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related decrease in trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD), respectively. The best-fitting dose-response curves were linear-quadratic. Taking the controls into accounts, the lines of best fit were as follows: BV/TV (%) = $0.9584D^2-6.0168D+20.377$ ($r^2$ = 0.946, D = dose in Gy) and BMD ($mg{\cdot}cm^{-3}$) = $8.8115D^2-56.197D+194.41$ ($r^2$ = 0.999, D = dose in Gy). Body weight did not differ among the groups. No dose-dependent differences were apparent among the groups with regard to mechanical and anatomical properties of tibia, serum ALP and osteoclast activity. The findings provide the basis required for better understanding of the results that will be obtained in any further studies of radiation-induced bone responses.