• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.253-263
• /
• 1991

Twenty-seven patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (n=21) or with microscopic evidence of tumor rest after aggressive surgery for extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (n=6) between 1985 and 1990 were given radiotherapy consisting intentionally external radiotherapy and/or intraluminal therapy using Gamma-Med 12i (192-Ir) high dose rate (HDR) remote control afterloading system following bile drainage procedures and Gianturco stent insertion. The objectives of this study has been to assess the feasibility and effects on survival of a combination of external radiotherapy and brachytherapy with which we hope to achieve optimal loco-regional control for patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct tumors. Sixteen patients were men and eleven were women, and the mean age was 58 years (34-70). 10MV X-ray was used for radiation therapy, with the total dose ranging from 45 Gy to 55 Gy, and intraluminal brachytherapy performed after external radiotherapy, with the dose of total 15 Gy. The minimum follow up was 12 months. Failure were predominantly local-regional, without distant failure. Median survival was 10 months; 2-year actuarial survival rates was $21\%$. Median survival for common hepatic duct (CHD) cancer was 9 months; for common bile duct (CBD) cancer, was 16 months. And median survival for incomplete surgery/external radiotherapy group and external/intraluminal radiotherapy group was 10 months; for external radiotherapy alone group, was 6 months. Use of chemotherapy and/or hyperthermia were not affected in survival. Therefore, our result is that the survival rates in the group of external/intraluminal radiotherapy were comparable with ones in the group of incomplete resection/external radiotherapy, and so we believe that the aggressive local and regional radiotherapy can improve the quality of life and the survival length.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.143-156
• /
• 2005

Background: The best dose-fractionation regimen of the definitive radiotherapy for cervix cancer remains to be clearly determined. It seems to be partially attributed to the complexity of the affecting factors and the lack of detailed information on external and intra-cavitary fractionation. To find optimal practice guidelines, our experiences of the combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) were reviewed with detailed information of the various treatment parameters obtained from a large cohort of women treated homogeneously at a single institute. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 743 cervical cancer patients (Stage IB 198, IIA 77, IIB 364, IIIA 7, IIIB 89 and IVA 8) treated by radiotherapy alone, between 1990 and 1996. A total external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) dose of $23.4\~59.4$ Gy (Median 45.0) was delivered to the whole pelvis. High-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-IBT) was also peformed using various fractionation schemes. A Midline block (MLB) was initiated after the delivery of $14.4\~43.2$ Gy (Median 36.0) of EBRT in 495 patients, while In the other 248 patients EBRT could not be used due to slow tumor regression or the huge initial bulk of tumor. The point A, actual bladder & rectal doses were individually assessed in all patients. The biologically effective dose (BED) to the tumor ($\alpha/\beta$=10) and late-responding tissues ($\alpha/\beta$=3) for both EBRT and HDR-ICBT were calculated. The total BED values to point A, the actual bladder and rectal reference points were the summation of the EBRT and HDR-ICBT. In addition to all the details on dose-fractionation, the other factors (i.e. the overall treatment time, physicians preference) that can affect the schedule of the definitive radiotherapy were also thoroughly analyzed. The association between MD-BED $Gy_3$ and the risk of complication was assessed using serial multiple logistic regression models. The associations between R-BED $Gy_3$ and rectal complications and between V-BED $Gy_3$ and bladder complications were assessed using multiple logistic regression models after adjustment for age, stage, tumor size and treatment duration. Serial Coxs proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the relative risks of recurrence due to MD-BED $Gy_{10}$, and the treatment duration. Results: The overall complication rate for RTOG Grades $1\~4$ toxicities was $33.1\%$. The 5-year actuarial pelvic control rate for ail 743 patients was $83\%$. The midline cumulative BED dose, which is the sum of external midline BED and HDR-ICBT point A BED, ranged from 62.0 to 121.9 $Gy_{10}$ (median 93.0) for tumors and from 93.6 to 187.3 $Gy_3$ (median 137.6) for late responding tissues. The median cumulative values of actual rectal (R-BED $Gy_3$) and bladder Point BED (V-BED $Gy_3$) were 118.7 $Gy_3$ (range $48.8\~265.2$) and 126.1 $Gy_3$ (range: $54.9\~267.5$), respectively. MD-BED $Gy_3$ showed a good correlation with rectal (p=0.003), but not with bladder complications (p=0.095). R-BED $Gy_3$ had a very strong association (p=<0.0001), and was more predictive of rectal complications than A-BED $Gy_3$. B-BED $Gy_3$ also showed significance in the prediction of bladder complications in a trend test (p=0.0298). No statistically significant dose-response relationship for pelvic control was observed. The Sandwich and Continuous techniques, which differ according to when the ICR was inserted during the EBRT and due to the physicians preference, showed no differences in the local control and complication rates; there were also no differences in the 3 vs. 5 Gy fraction size of HDR-ICBT. Conclusion: The main reasons optimal dose-fractionation guidelines are not easily established is due to the absence of a dose-response relationship for tumor control as a result of the high-dose gradient of HDR-ICBT, individual differences In tumor responses to radiation therapy and the complexity of affecting factors. Therefore, in our opinion, there is a necessity for individualized tailored therapy, along with general guidelines, in the definitive radiation treatment for cervix cancer. This study also demonstrated the strong predictive value of actual rectal and bladder reference dosing therefore, vaginal gauze packing might be very Important. To maintain the BED dose to less than the threshold resulting in complication, early midline shielding, the HDR-ICBT total dose and fractional dose reduction should be considered.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the use of external radiation therapy (ERT) in terms of survival and compliance in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 17 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma treated with ERT between 1993 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. ERT was administered after surgery in 14 patients and after a biopsy in three patients. Among the 14 patients who had undergone surgery, nine underwent a curative resection and five underwent a palliative resection. Six patients had associated well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas and 14 patients were diagnosed with a tumor size exceeding 5 cm. The radiation dose ranged from $6{\sim}70\;Gy$ (median dose, 37.5 Gy). Eleven patients completed the planned course of ERT, whereas six patients did not. The follow-up period ranged from $1{\sim}104$ months (median, 5 months; mean, 20 months). Results: Five patients started the ERT without the presence of a gross mass and all of the patients competed ERT without a re-growth of tumor. Twelve patients (four patients after a curative resection, five patients after a palliative resection and three patients after a biopsy) started ERT with a gross mass present and only six patients were able to complete the planned course of ERT. Among the six patients who completed ERT, two patients showed a marked regression of the tumor mass, whereas two patients showed slight regression and two patients showed no response. The median survival was five months (range, $1{\sim}104$ months) and the mean survival was 21 months. The overall survival was 41% at 1-year, 24% at 2-years and 12% at 5-years. Significant prognostic factors included the number of primary tumors present, tumor size, whether surgery was performed and completion of ERT as planned. Long-term survivors showed a tendency of having smaller sized initial tumors and smaller sized pre-ERT tumors than the short-term survivors. Conclusion: This study suggests that patients with a small initial tumor (${\leq}5\;cm$), which was treated by surgery (curative resection or palliative resection) before ERT, and without rapid re-growth of the mass seen at the surgical site at the beginning of the ERT course, would be the best candidates for postoperative ERT. In contrast, patients with a large initial tumor (>5 cm) and did not undergo surgery before ERT or that rapid re-growth of the mass was observed at the surgical site are likely to have a short survival time, along with the interruption of ERT. In these cases, the role of ERT is very limited and the omission of ERT could be considered.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.135-139
• /
• 1986

Seven patients having midline granuloma received local irradiation from March 1983 to June 1986. Clinically, all of the 7 patients had pansinusitis with necrotic destruction of the involved sites and one case revealed colonic lesion. Each of the patients received a tumor dose of $4,000\~5,000 cGy/5\~6$ wks to the upper aerodigestive tract using a 6-MV linear accelerator. Complete and partial remission occured in 3 patients each, and in one case, the disease progressed despite of the irradiation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.173-176
• /
• 1987

Carcinoma of extrahepatic biliary tract is slow growing tumor but curative resection is rarely successful. Radiation therapy has been introduced for enhancing palliation and possible longterm survival. We treated a case of advanced extrahepatic biliary tract carcinoma with high dose rate remote afterloading system through T-tube as a initial irradiation postoperatively. We hope that this treatment may affect not only ennancing palliation and better quality of life but also in local tumor control.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The best treatment for advanced esophageal cancer is chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. In spite of the advance of multimodality therapy, most patients with esophageal cancer are treated with radiation therapy alone. This study reports the outcome of the use of conventional external beam radiotherapy alone for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2005, 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with external beam radiotherapy using a total dose exceeding 40 Gy. Radiotherapy was delivered with a total dose of 44-60 Gy(median dose, 57.2 Gy) over $36{\sim}115$ days(median time, 45 days). Thirteen patients(43.3%) had a history of disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, lye stricture, asthma, cerebral infarct, and cancers. Four patients metachronously had double primary cancers. The most common location of a tumor was the mid-thoracic portion of the esophagus(56.7%). Tumor lengths ranged from 2 cm to 11 cm, with a median length of 6 cm. For AJCC staging, stage III was the most common (63.3%). Five patients had metastases at diagnosis. Results: The median overall survival was 8.3 months. The survival rates at 1-year and 2-years were 33.3% and 18.7%, respectively. The complete response rate $1{\sim}3$ months after radiotherapy was 20%(6/30) and the partial response rate was 70%(21/30). Sixteen patients(53.3%) had an improved symptom of dysphagia. Significant prognostic factors were age, tumor length, stage, degree of dysphagia at the time of diagnosis and tumor response. Cox regression analysis revealed the aim of treatment, clinical tumor response and tumor length as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Twenty-eight patients had local failure and another four patients had metastases. Three patients were detected with double primary cancers in this analysis. A complication of esophageal stricture was observed in three patients(10%), and radiation pneumonitis occurred in two patients(6.7%). Conclusion: The prognosis of esophageal cancer remains poor, in spite of advances in radiotherapy techniques. Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment modalities for the relief of dysphagia and treatment related complications are minimal. It is expected that the addition of chemotherapy or another systemic modality to radiotherapy will improve tumor control and increase the survival rate in advanced esophageal cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.289-293
• /
• 1988

Radiation therapy has been used as adjuvant therapy or primary treatment for inoperable, remnant or recurrent cancer. Many authors reported good palliation effect by external irradiation or interstitial therapy, but the report of intracavitary irradiation for recurrent, inoperable rectal cancer is very rare. We experienced a case of recurrent adenocarcinoma of rectum along fistula tract after laparotomy and postoperative radiotherapy who achieved very good palliation by intracavitary irradiation. Even though we have only good palliation without impressive survival improvement in this case, we hope that this technique may achieve good local control In other similar patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.59-59
• /
• 2003

목적 : 환자의 호흡에 의한 움직임 및 부정확한 환자 자세 setup 때문에 3 차원 전신 정위 방사선치료,3 차원 입체조형 방사선치료 IMRT와 같은 방사선 치료기술에서 병소에 대한 정확한 표적 위치측정은 매우 어려운 실정이다. 그러므로 본 연구는 방사선 치료시 환자의 움직임을 최대한 고정시켜 줄 수 있으며 환자 자세에 대한 setup 오차를 감소시키고 환자 전신에 산재한 병소의 위치를 좌표화할 수 있는 전신 정위 프레임 제작과 제작한 프레임에 대한 고정효과 및 재현성을 나타내는 환자 자세의 setup 오차를 평가하는데 있다. 재료 및 방법 : 자체 제작한 전신 정위 프레임 구조는 CT 영상 촬영 가능성에 중점을 두고 병소 표적의 좌표실현 및 환자체형에 따른 다양성 그리고 프레임에 대한 견고성 및 안정성 확인에 초점화하여 제작하였다. 이렇게 제작된 전신 정위 프레임에 대한 방사선 투과율 측정 실험과 CCTV 카메라와 DVR(Digital Video Recorder)를 이용해 환자 자세 변화에 대한 영상을 획득하여 matlab으로 구현한 오차분석용 프로그램으로 환자 외부자세에 대한 오차 비교 평가하고 CT 촬영에 의한 가상표적 위치측정 실험을 수행하였다. 또 한 고정벨트 추가 사용으로 인한 환자의 고정효과 정도를 살펴보았다. 결과 : 제작된 전신 정위 프레임에 대한 방사선 투과율은 마그네트론 10, 21 MeV의 에너지에서 95, 96% 의 투과율이 측정되었고 30 $^{\circ}$. 60 。각도의 경사로 빔이 전달될 때는 90.3, 94.4% 가 측정되었다. CCTV 카메라를 이용하여 흉부 및 복부의 움직임을 촬영한 영상을 Matlab프로그램으로 구현한 오차분석 프로그램을 적용한 결과, 환자 자세에 대한 오차의 평균값은 흉부의 lateral 방향에서는 3.63$\pm$1.4 mm, AP 방향에서는 2.1$\pm$0.82 mm이었다. 그리고 복부의 later의 방향에서는 7.0$\pm$2.1 mm, AP 방향에서는 6.5$\pm$2.2 mm 이었다. 또한 표적 위치측정을 위해서 환자의 피부에 임의의 가상표적을 부착하고 CT 촬영한 영상결과, 프레임으로 가상표 적에 대한 위치를 정확히 파악할 수 있었다. 결론 : 제작된 프레임을 적용하여 방사선투과율 측정실험, 환자 외부자세에 대한 오차 측정실험, 가상표적 위치측정 실험 등을 수행하였다. 환자 외부자세에 대한 오차 측정실험 경우, 더 많은 Volunteer를 적용하여 보다 정확한 오차 측정실험이 수행되어야 할 것이며 정확한 표적 위치 측정실험을 위해서 내부 마커를 삽입한 환자를 적용한 임상실험이 수행되어야 할 것이다. 또한 위치결정에서 획득한 좌표값의 정확성을 알아보기 위해서 팬톰을 이용한 방사선조사 실험이 추후에 실행되어져야 할 것이다. 그리고 제작된 프레임에 Rotating X선 시스템과 내부 장기의 움직임을 계량화하고 PTV에서의 최적 여유폭을 설정함으로써 정위 방사선수술 및 3 차원 업체 방사선치료에 대한 병소 위치측정과 환자의 자세에 대한 setup 오차측정 결정에 도움이 될 수 있을 것이라고 사료된다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2003

Purpose :To analyze the survival period, prognostic factors and complications of patients having undergone high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDR-ILB) as a salvage radiation therapy, while having a catheter, for percutaneous transhepatic billary drainage (PTBD), inserted due to biliary obstruction caused by a secondary malignant biliary tumor Methods and Materials : A retrospective study was performed on 24 patients having undergone HDR-ILB, with PTBD catheter Insertion, be)ween December 1992 and August 2001. Their median age was 58.5, ranging from 35 to 82 years. The primary cancer site were the stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas and the colon, with 12, 6, 3, 2 and 1 cases, respectively. Eighteen patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy and HDR-lLB, while slx were treated with HDR-lLB only. The 4otal external beam, and brachytherapy radiations dose were 30$\~$61.2 and 9$\~$30 Gy, with median doses of 50 and 15 Gy, respectively. Results : Of the 24 patients analyzed, 22 died during the follow-up period, with a median survival of 7.3 months. The 6 and 12 months survival rates were 54.2 (13 patients) and 20.8$\%$ (5 patients), respectively. The median survivals for stomach and gailbladder cancers were 7.8 and 10.2 months, respectively, According to the unlvariate analysis, a significant factor affecting survival of over one year was the total radiation dose (over 50 Gy) (o=0.0200), with all )he patients surviving more than one year had been Irradiated with more than 50 Gy. The acute side effects during the radiation therapy were managed with conservative treatment. During the follow-up period, 5 patients showed symptoms of cholangltis due to the radiation therapy Conclusion :An extension to the survival of those patients treated with HDR-ILB is suggested compared to the median historical survival of 4hose patients treated with external biliary drainage. A boost radiation dose could be effectively given, by performing HDR-lLB, which is a prognostic factor In addition, the acute complications of radiation therapy were effectively controlled by conservative management, and It could be regarded as a safe treatment.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.243-252
• /
• 1995

Purpose : Intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy is an accepted treatment for the tumors of GI tract. However, there is only some limited clinical data for intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy for the tumors of GI tract. Materials and Methods : Between February 1991 and July 1993, 18 Patients who have the tumors of GI tract (esophageal cancer-8 cases, rectal cancer-10 cases) were treated with high dose rate Iridium-192 afterloading system (Microselectron-HDR, Nucletron CO, Netherland) at the department of therapeutic radiology, St. Mary's hospital, Catholic university medical college. Age range was 47-87 years with a mean a9e 71 years. All patients were treated with intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy within two weeks after conventional external radiation therapy and received 3-5 Gy/fraction 3-4 times per week to a total dose 12-20 Gy (mean 17 Gy). Standard fractionation and conventional dose were delivered for external radiation therapy. Total dose of external radiation therapy ranged 41.4-59.4 Gy (mean 49.6 Gy). Median follow up was 19 months Results : The analysis was based on 18 patients, The complete response and partial response in esophageal cancer was similar (38%). Two year rates for survival and median survival were 13% and 10 months, respectively. Among 10 patients of rectal cancers, partial response was obtained in 6 patients (60%). There was no complete response in the patients with rectal cancer, but good palliative results were achieved in all patients. Conclusion : Although the number of patients was not large and the follow-up period was relatively short, these findings suggested that intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy could be useful in the treatment of the patients with advanced tumors of GI tract.