• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.240-248
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• 2009

Purpose: To provide a simple research tool that may be used to analyze a dose volume histogram from different radiation therapy planning systems for NTCP (Normal Tissue Complication Probability), OED (Organ Equivalent Dose) and so on. Materials and Metohds: A high-level computing language was chosen to implement Niemierko's EUD, Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model's NTCP, and OED. The requirements for treatment planning analysis were defined and the procedure, using a developed GUI based program, was described with figures. The calculated data, including volume at a dose, dose at a volume, EUD, and NTCP were evaluated by a commercial radiation therapy planning system, Pinnacle (Philips, Madison, WI, USA) for comparison. Results: The volume at a special dose and a dose absorbed in a volume on a dose volume histogram were successfully extracted using DVH data of several radiation planning systems. EUD, NTCP and OED were successfully calculated using DVH data and some required parameters in the literature. Conclusion: A simple DVH analyzer program was developed and has proven to be a useful research tool for radiation therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2007

Purpose: We proposed the method using dose-volume Histogram index to compare prospective plan trials in tomotherapy planning optimization. Materials and Methods: For 3 patients in cranial region, thorax and abdominal region, we acquired computed tomography images with PQ 5000 in each case. Then we delineated target structure and normal organ contour with pinnacle Ver 7.6c, after transferred each data to tomotherapy planning system (hi-art system Ver 2.0), we optimized 3 plan trials in each case that used differ from beam width, pitch, importance. We analyzed 3 plan trials in each region with isodose distribution, dose-volume histogram and dose statistics. Also we verified 3 plan trials with specialized DVH-indexes that is dose homogeneity index in target organ, conformity index around target structure and dose gradient index in non-target structures. Results: We compared with the similarity of results that the one is decide the best plan trial using isodose distribution, dose volume histogram and dose statistics, and the another is using DVH-indexes. They all decided the same plan trial to better result in each case. Conclusion: In some of case, it was appeared a little difference of results that used to DVH-index for comparison of plan trial in tomotherapy by special goal in it. But because DVH-index represented both dose distribution in target structure and high dose risk about normal tissue, it will be reasonable method for comparison of many plan trials before the tomotherapy treatments.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2005

목적: 다양한 발생부위에서 발생한 두경부종양을 대상으로 3차원 입체조형치료를 시도하여 표적체적 내 선량균일성과 주변장기의 선량분포변하를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1995년 1월부터 1996년 12월까지 3차원 입체조형치료를 시행 받은 38명에 분석을 시행하였다. 3차원 입체조형 치료는 동일평면 또는 비동일평면상에서 4개에서 14개의 조사면 수로 시행되었다. 3차원 입체조형치료계획시 표적 체적에 $50{\sim}82Gy$의 선량을 처방하였고, 이하선 안구, 척수, 측두하악관절 등을 보호하고자 하였다. 3차원 입체조형치료 계획을 기존의 2차원 치료계획과 비교하기 위하여 표적체적과 주변정상자기의 선량체적히스토그램, 평균선량, 표적체적 내에서 처방선량의 $95{\sim}105%$의 선량이 분포하는 체적을 비교하였다 치료계획에서 실제 치료시까지 소용되는 비용효과를 비교하였다. 대상환자의 평균추적기간은 34개월이었다. 결 과: 3차원 입체조형시료는 2차원 치료에 비해서 표적체적내 평균선량이 평균 10% 증가하였고, 주변정장기에 조사되는 방사선량이 현저히 감소됨을 관찰할 수 있었고 표적체적에 대한 등선량 곡선 분포가 우수함을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결 론: 3차원 입체조형치료는 두경부종양에서 표적체적의 선량 균일성이 증가하였고, 주변장기의 보존이 가능할 것으로 생각되었다. 따라서 본 저자들은 3차원 입체조형치료가 두경부종양에서 국소제어율과 무질병생존율 향상에 기여할 것으로 생각하였다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 2003

Purpose : To reduce the Irradiation dose to the lungs and heart in the case of chest wail irradiation using an oppositional electron beam, we used an Individualized custom bolus, which was precisely designed to compensate for the differences In chest wall thickness. The benefits were evaluated by comparing the normal tissue complication probablilties (NTCPS) and dose statistics both with and without boluses. Materials and Methods : Boluses were made, and their effects evaluated in ten patients treated using the reverse hockey-stick technique. The electron beam energy was determined so as to administer 80% of the irradiation prescription dose to the deepest lung-chest wall border, which was usually located at the internal mammary lymph node chain. An individualized custom bolus was prepared to compensate for a chest wall thinner than the prescription depth by meticulously measuring the chest wall thickness at 1 emf intervals on the planning CT Images. A second planning CT was obtained overlying the individuailzed custom bolus for each patient's chest wall. 3-D treatment planning was peformed using ADAC-Pinnacle$^{3}$ for all patients with and without bolus. NTCPS based on 'the Lyman-Kutcher' model were analyzed and the mean, maximum, minimum doses, V$_{50}$ and V$_{95}$ for 4he heari and lungs were computed. Results .The average NTCPS in the ipsliateral lung showed a statistically significant reduction (p<0.01), from 80.2${\pm}$3.43% to 47.7${\pm}$4.61%, with the use of the individualized custom boluses. The mean lung irradiation dose to the ipsilateral iung was also significantly reduced by about 430 cGy, Trom 2757 cGy to 2,327 cGy (p<0.01). The V$_{50}$ and V$_{95}$ in the ipsilateral lung markedly decreased from the averages of 54.5 and 17.4% to 45.3 and 11.0%, respectively. The V$_{50}$ and V$_{95}$ In the heart also decreased from the averages of 16.8 and 6.1% to 9.8% and 2.2%, respectively. The NTCP In the contralateral lung and the heart were 0%, even for the cases with no bolus because of the small effective mean radiation volume values of 4.4 and 7.1%, respectively Conclusion : The use of an Individualized custom bolus in the radiotherapy of postrnastectorny chest wall reduced the NTCP of the ipsilateral lung by about 24.5 to 40.5%, which can improve the complication free cure probability of breast cancer patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.354-359
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to verify the dosimetric effect on real PTV (planning target volume) coverage and safety of OARs (organs at risk) at various image fusion protocol-based radiosurgery plan for pituitary adenomas. Real PTV coverage and its variation was acquired and maximum dose and the volume absorbing above threshold dose were also measured for verifying the safety of optic pathway and brainstem. The protocol that can reduce superior-inferior uncertainty by using both axial and coronal MR (magnetic resonance) image sets shows relatively lower values than that of case using only axial image sets. As a result, the image fusion protocol with both axial and coronal image sets can be beneficial to generate OAR-weighted radiosurgery plan.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2010

Purpose: Treating same region with different modalities there is a limit to evaluate the total absorbed dose of normal tissues. The reason is that it does not support to communication each modalities yet. In this article, it evaluates absorbed dose of the patients who had been treated same region by a tomotherapy and a linear accelerator. Materials and Methods: After reconstructing anatomic structure with a anthropomorphic phantom, administrate 45 Gy to a tumor in linac plan system as well as prescribe 15 Gy in tomotherapy plan system for make an ideal treatment plan. After the plan which made by tomoplan system transfers to the oncentra plan system for reproduce plan under the same condition and realize total treatment plan with summation 45 Gy linac treatment plan. To evaluate the absorbed dose of two different modalities, do a comparative study both a simple summation dose values and integration dose values. Then compare and analyze absorbed dose of normal tissues and a tumor with the patients who had been exposured radiation by above two differents modalities. Results: The result of compared data, in case of minimum dose, there are big different dose values in spleen (12.4%). On the other hand, in case of the maximum dose, it reports big different in a small bowel (10.2%) and a cord (5.8%) in head & neck cancer patients, there presents that oral (20.3%), right lens (7.7%) in minimum dose value. About maximum dose, it represents that spinal (22.5), brain stem (12%), optic chiasm (8.9%), Rt lens (11.5%), mandible (8.1%), pituitary gland (6.2%). In case of Rt abdominal cancer patients, there represents big different minimum dose as Lt kidney (20.3%), stomach (8.1%) about pelvic cancer patients, it reports there are big different in minimum dose as a bladder (15.2%) as well as big different value in maximum dose as a small bowel (5.6%), a bladder (5.5%) in addition, making treatment plan it is able us to get. Conclusion: In case of comparing both simple summation absorbed dose and integration absorbed dose, the minimum dose are represented higher as well as the maximum dose come out lower and the average dose are revealed similar with our expected values data. It is able to evaluate tumor & normal tissue absorbed dose which could had been not realized by treatment plan system. The DVH of interesting region are prescribed lower dose than expected. From now on, it needs to develop the new modality which are able to realize exact dose distribution as well as integration absorbed dose evaluation in same treatment region with different modalities.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a belly-board device (BBD) in reducing the volume of small bowel during four-field pelvic irradiation. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two cancer patients (14 uterine cervical cancer, 6 rectal cancer, and 2 endometrial cancer) scheduled to receive pelvic irradiation were selected for this study. Two sets of CT images were taken with and without the belly-board device using the Siemens 16 channel CT scanner. All patients were set in the prone position. The CT images were transferred to a treatment planning system for dose calculation and volume measurements. The external surfaces of small bowel and the bladder were contoured on all CT scans and the 4-pelvic fields were added. The dose-volume-histogram of the bladder and small bowel, with and without the BBD, were plotted and analyzed. Results: In all patients, the total small bowel volume included in the irradiated fields was reduced when the BBD was used. The mean volume reduction was 35% (range, $1{\sim}79%$) and was statistically significant (p<0.001). The reduction in small bowel volume receiving $10{\sim}100%$ of the prescribed dose was statistically significant when the BBD was used in all cases. Almost no change in the total bladder volume involved was observed in the field (<8 cc, p=0.762). However, the bladder volume receiving 90% of the prescribed dose was 100% in 15/22 patients (68%) and $90{\sim}99%$ in 7/22 patients (32%) with the BBD. In comparison, the bladder volume receiving 90% of the prescribed dose was 100% in 10/22 patients (45%), $90{\sim}99%$ in 7/22 patients (32%), and $80{\sim}89%$ in 5/22 patients (23%) without the BBD. When the BBD was used, an increase in the bladder volume receiving a high dose range was observed Conclusion: This study shows that the use of a BBD for the treatment of cancer in the pelvic area significantly improves small bowel sparing. However, since the BBD pushed the bladder into the treatment field, the bladder volume receiving the high dose could increase. Therefore it is recommended to be considerate in using the BBD when bladder damage is of concern.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2001

Purpose : Planning target volume (PTV) for tumors in abdomen or thorax includes enough margin for breathing-related movement of tumor volumes during treatment. Depending on the location of the tumor, the magnitude of PTV margin extends from 10 mm to 30 mm, which increases substantial volume of the irradiated normal tissue hence, resulting in increase of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). We developed a simple and handy method which can reduce PTV margins in patients with liver tumors, respiratory motion reduction device (RRD). Materials and methods : For 10 liver cancer patients, the data of internal organ motion were obtained by examining the diaphragm motion under fluoroscope. It was tested for both supine and prone position. A RRD was made using MeV-Green and Styrofoam panels and then applied to the patients. By analyzing the diaphragm movement from patients with RRD, the magnitude of PTV margin was determined and dose volume histogram (DVH) was computed using AcQ-Plan, a treatment planning software. Dose to normal tissue between patients with RRD and without RRD was analyzed by comparing the fraction of the normal liver receiving to $50\%$ of the isocenter dose. DVH and NTCP for normal liver and adjacent organs were also evaluated. Results : When patients breathed freely, average movement of diaphragm was $12{\pm}1.9\;mm$ in prone position in contrast to $16{\pm}1.9\;mm$ in supine position. In prone position, difference in diaphragm movement with and without RRD was $3{\pm}0.9\;mm$ and 12 mm, respectively, showing that PTV margins could be reduced to as much as 9 mm. With RRD, volume of the irradiated normal liver reduced up to $22.7\%$ in DVH analysis. Conclusion : Internal organ motion due to breathing can be reduced using RRD, which is simple and easy to use in clinical setting. It can reduce the organ motion-related PTV margin, thereby decrease volume of the irradiated normal tissue.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2011

The aim of the study is to analyze the dose delivery error depending on the depth variation according to target positions and arc trajectories by comparing the simulated treatment planning with the actual dose delivery in conformal arc therapy. We simulated the conformal arc treatment planning with the three target positions (center, 2.5 cm, and 5 cm in the phantom). For the experiments, IMRT body phantom (I’mRT Phantom, Wellhofer Dosimetry, Germany) was used for treatment planning with CT (Computed Tomography, Light speed 16, GE, USA). The simulated treatment plans were established by three different target positions using treatment planning system (Eclipse, ver. 6.5, VMS, Palo Alto, USA). The radiochromic film (Gafchromic EBT2, ISP, Wayne, USA) and dose analysis software (OmniPro-IMRT, ver. 1.4, Wellhofer Dosimetry, Germany) were used for the measurement of the planned arc delivery using 6 MV photon beam from linear accelerator (CL21EX, VMS, Palo Alto, USA). Gamma index (DD: 3%, DTA: 2 mm) histogram and dose profile were evaluated for a quantitative analysis. The dose distributions surrounded by targets were also compared with each plans and measurements by conformity index (CI), and homogeneity index (HI). The area covered by 100% isodose line was compared to the whole target area. The results for the 5 cm-shifted target plan show that 23.8%, 35.6%, and 37% for multiple conformal arc therapy (MCAT), single conformal arc therapy (SCAT), and multiple static beam therapy, respectively. In the 2.5 cm-shifted target plan, it was shown that 61%, 21.5%, and 14.2%, while in case of center-located target, 70.5%, 14.1%, and 36.3% for MCAT, SCAT, and multiple static beam therapy, respectively. The values were resulted by most superior in the MCAT, except the case of the 5 cm-shifted target. In the analysis of gamma index histogram, it was resulted of 37.1, 27.3, 29.2 in the SCAT, while 9.2, 8.4, 10.3 in the MCAT, for the target positions of center, shifted 2.5 cm and 5 cm, respectively. The fail proportions of the SCAT were 2.8 to 4 times as compared to those of the MCAT. In conclusion, dose delivery error could be occurred depending on the target positions and arc trajectories. Hence, if the target were located in the biased position, the accurate dose delivery could be performed through the optimization of depth according to arc trajectory.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

연구목적 : 비인두암 환자들을 대상으로 방사선치료 시 삼차원입체조형치료기법과 용적세기조절회전치료기법을 비교하고 이하선을 포함한 정상조직 보호에 있어 그 차이점을 알아 보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 비인두암 환자 5명을 대상으로 치료계획용 CT(computed tomography)를 시행 후 삼차원입체조형방사선치료계획 과 용적세기조절회전치료계획을 시행하였다. 이를 바탕으로 얻은 선량분포, conformity index(CI) 그리고 선량체적 히스토그램을 통해 손상위험장기(organ at risk)와 계획용표적체적(planning target volume)을 비교 분석하였다. 결 과 : 분석결과 이하선에 조사되는 평균선량이 용적세기조절회전치료계획에서는 43.9%로 삼차원입체조형치료계획에서의 89.4% 보다 유의하게(p=0.043) 감소하였다. 계획용표적체적 conformity index의 경우 용적세기조절회전치료계획 (CI=1.06)에서 삼차원입체조형치료계획(CI=2.55) 보다 유의하게(p=0.043) 향상된 결과를 보였다. 결 론 : 비인두암 환자에서 용적세기조절회전 치료계획 시 삼차원입체조형치료계획 보다 유의하게 이하선에 평균선량이 줄었고 계획용 표적체적에 대한 conformity도 유의하게 향상되는 결과를 보였다. 본 연구가 적은 수의 환자를 대상으로 하였으나 용적세기조절회전치료기법을 시행 시 구강건조증의 발생을 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 향후 더 많은 환자군을 대상으로 한 임상연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.