• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 1996

Purpose : This analysis was to evaluate the radiation dose around a tracheostoma and spinal cord in the case of advanced laryngeal cancers in which a total laryngectomy was done before radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : The radiation dose around a tracheostoma and spinal cord was measured by thermoluminescence and film dosimetry in the phantom, Radiotherapy treatment planning was done in 12 cases of advanced laryngeal cancer and compared with the measured dose in the phantom. Results : Mean spinal cord doses in the phantom by thermoluminescence dosimetry were $86.4\%$ (with a tracheostoma), $80.1\%$ (without a tracheostoma), and the difference was $6.3\%$. Mean spinal cord doses in the phantom by film dosimetry were $84.7\%$ (with a tracheostoma), $79.0\%$ (without a tracheostoma). and the difference were $5.7\%$. Calculated spinal cord doses in the phantom were $84.0\%$ (with a tracheostoma), $78.0\%$ (without a tracheostoma), and the difference was $6.0\%$. Mean calculated spinal cord doses in 12 patients were $83.1\%$ (with a tracheostoma), $76.9\%$ (without a tracheostoma). and the difference was $6.2\%$. Measured dose of lateral and posterior wall of the tracheostoma by film was low (depth of maximum dose = 12 mm). Conclusion : In the treatment planning of the advanced laryngeal cancers, the radiation dose of the tracheostoma and spinal cord should be evaluated and be followed by an appropriate management such as a bouls or a brachytherapy boost if the dose around the tracheostoma is low.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 2000

Purpose : To determine treatment or이ecol for inoperable esophageal cancer patients, 껜e evaluated survival rate and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods : We evaluated esophageal cancer treated by curative or palliative am in KCCH from 1992 to 1996, retrospectively. Recurrent or underdose case below 40 Gy were excluded. The number of male and female were 35 and 5, respectively. Thirty-eight patients were squamous carcinoma and 2 patients were not biopsy proven. Ten patients were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy Median dose of radiation therapy was 59.4 Gy and the range was $40\~60$ Gy. Results : The median survival is 6.5 months and 1-year survival rate was $28.3\%$. Age, location, radiation dose and chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. Median survivals of patients with below stage III and over stage IVA were 7.6 and 6.2 months respectively, but it is not significant. Conclusions : The survival for esophageal cancer is very poor. For patients with curative aim, chemotherapy must be considered. For patients with palliative aim, short-term external beam radiation therapy and/or brachytherapy must be considered.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the treatment results and prognostic factors after radiotherapy in stage IIB uterine cervix cancer. Materials and methods : We retrospectively analyzed the records of 90 patients with stage IIB uterine cervix cancer who received radiotherapy between 9/94 and 12/99. Age was ranged from 28 to 79 years (median 57). Tumor size was $\geq4\;cm$ in 64 patients. Preteatment SCC level was measured in 75 patients. Twenty nine patients received conventional radiotherapy (QD) and the others received modified hyper-fractionated radiotherapy (BID). Only 7 patients in BID had tumor size <4 cm. All patients received high dose rate brachytherapy $(4\;Gy\times7\;or\;5\;Gy\times6)$. No Patient received concurrent chemotherapy during radiotherapy. Follow up period was ranging from 9 to 76 months (median 38). Results : The 5-year overall and disease free survival rates were $73.4\%\;and\;71.6\%$, respectively. Local recurrences occurred in $10\%$ of patients, and distant metastasis in $18.9\%$. There was a significant correlation between OS/DFS and tumor size $(<4cm;\;OS\;95.2\%,\;DFS\;91.4\%,\;\geq4cm;\;OS\;63.4\%,\;DFS\;63.4\%)$. Pretreatment SCC level was one of prognostic factors only in univariate analysis. Conclusion : With modified hyperfractionated radiotherapy, there was very low local recurrence rate $(6.6\%)$ and high 5-year overall and disease free survival rate $(75.4\%\;and\;70.5\%)$, which is comparable to results after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in bulky, locally advanced stage IIB uterine cervix cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2001

Purpose : By developing on-line statistics program to record the information of radiation oncology to share the information with internet. It is possible to supply basic reference data for administrative plans to improve radiation oncology. Materials and methods : The information of radiation oncology statistics had been collected by paper forms about 52 hospitals in the past. Now, we can input the data by internet web browsers. The statistics program used windows NT 4.0 operation system, Internal Information Server 4.0 (IIS4.0) as a web server and the Microsoft Access MDB. We used Structured Query Language (SQL), Visual Basic, VBScript and JAVAScript to display the statistics according to years and hospitals. Results : This program shows present conditions about man power, research, therapy machines, technics, brachytherapy, clinic statistics, radiation safety management, institution, quality assurance and radioisotopes in radiation oncology department. The database consists of 38 inputs and 6 outputs windows. Statistical output windows can be increased continuously according to user's need. Conclusion : We have developed statistics program to process all of the data in department of radiation oncology for reference information. Users easily could input the data by internet web browsers and share the information.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1997

Purpose : We analyzed the survival and failure patterns of cervix cancer patients treated with irradiation alone to evaluate our treatment method and to compare with the others Methods and Materials : Two hundred and twenty cervical cancer patients, Stage IB, II A, and II B who completed the planned treatment between Mar 1987 and December 1991 were analyzed retrospectively. The Stage IB patients were restaged to the Stage IB1 and IB2 by the recently revised FIGO classification, Patients were treated with a combination of external irradiation and the intracavitary brachytherapy Determination of the tumor control was done at the time of 6 months Postirradiation. The follow-up time was ranged from 3 to 115 months and the mean was 62 months and the follow-up rate was $93.6\%$(206/220) Results : The overall 5-year survival rate of Stage IB1 (N=50), IB2(N: 15). II A(N=58), and II B(N=97) was $94\%,\;87\%,\;69\%,\;and\;56\%$. respectively. In the univariate analysis of prognostic factors, stage(0.00), initial Hg level (P=0.00), initial TA-4(tumor-associated) antigen level(p= 0.02), initial CEA level(p=0.02), barrel-shaped tumor(p=0.02), whole cervical involvement (0.00), pelvic tyrnphadenopathy(LAP) in CT(p=0.04), and Post-irradiation adiuvant chemotherapy(P=0.00) were statistically significant in survival analysis. In a while multivariate analysis showed that the stage was the most powerful Prognostic indicator and the Post-irradiation chemotherapy factor also showed the statistical significance. The overall local control rate was $81\%$ and by the stage, $100\%$ in Stage IBI, $86.7\%$ in Stage IBS, $84.5\%$ in Stage IIA, and $68.1\%$ in Stage IIB, respectively The overall tumor recurrence rate was $15.5\%$(27/174) and by the stage, $8\%$(4/50) in Stage IB1, $0\%$(0/l3) in Stage IB2, $22.4\%$(l1/49) in Stage II A, and $19.4\%$(12/62) in Stage II B, respectively. Conclusions : We obtained the similar treatment results to the other's ones in early stage cervical cancer patients. But in Stage II B, the local control rate was lower than that of the other institutes and also the survival was poorer. So it seems to be necessary to reevaluate the treatment method in advanced cervical cancer patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2000

Purpose :We peformed the retrospective analysis to find the outcome of external beam radiotherapy alone in advanced esophageal cancer patients. Methods and Materials : One hundred and six Patients treated with external beam radiotherapy alone between July 1990 and December 1996 were analyzed retrospectively. We limited the site of the lesions to the thoracic esophagus and cell type to the squamous cell carcinoma. Follow-up was completed in 100 patients (94$\%$) and ranged from 1 month to 92 months (median; 6 months). Results :The median age was 62 years old and male to female ratio was 104 2. Fifty-three percent was the middle thorax lesion and curative radiotherapy was peformed in 83$\%$. Mean tumor dose delivered with curative aim was 58.6 Gy (55$\~$70.8 Gy) and median duration of the radiation therapy was 53 days. The median survival of all patients was 6 months and )-year and 2-year overall survival rate was 27$\%$ and 12$\%$, respectively, Improvement of dysphagia was obtained in most patients except for 7 patients who underwent feeding gastrostomy. The complete response rate immediately after radiation therapy was 32$\%$ (34/106). The median survival and 2-year survival rate of the complete responder was 14 months and 30$\%$ respectively, while those of the nonresponder was 4 months and 0$\%$ respectively (p=0.000). The median survival and 2-year survival rate of the patients who could tolerate regular diet was 9 months and 16$\%$ while those of the patients who could not tolerate regular diet was 3 months and 0$\%$, respectively (p=0.004). The survival difference between the patients with S cm or less tumor length and those with more than 5 cm tumor length was marginally statistically significant (u=0,06). However, the survival difference according to the periesophageal invasion or mediastinal tyrnphadenopathy in the chest CT imaging study was not statistically significant in this study. In a multivariate analysis, the statistically significant covariates to the survival were complete response to radiotherapy, tumor length, and initial degree of dysphagia in a decreasing order. The complication was observed in 10 patients (9$\%$). Conclusion :The survival outcome for advanced esophageal cancer patients treated by external beam radiotherapy alone was very poor. In the treatment of these patients, the brachytherapy and chemotherapy should be added to improve the treatment outcome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2008

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of the use of accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy(AHRT) for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers. Materials and Methods: Between May 2000 and September 2002, 179 patients were identified with FIGO stage IIB, IIIB, and IVA cancers. Of the 179 patients, 45 patients were treated with AHRT(AHRT group) and 134 patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy(CRT group), respectively. Patients undergoing the AHRT regimen received a dose of 30 Gy in 20 fractions(1.5 $Gy{\times}2$ fractions/day) to the whole pelvis. Subsequently, with a midline block, we administered a parametrial boost with a dose of 20 Gy using 2 Gy fractions. Patients also received two courses of low-dose-rate brachytherapy, up to a total dose of 85{\sim}90 Gy to point A. In the CRT group of patients, the total dose to point A was $85{\sim}90$ Gy. The overall treatment duration was a median of 37 and 66 days for patients that received AHRT and CRT, respectively. Statistical analysis was calculated by use of the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and Chi-squared test. Results: For patients that received cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the local control rate at 5 years was 100% and 79.2% for the AHRT and CRT group of patients, respectively(p=0.028). The 5-year survival rate for patients with a stage IIB bulky tumor was 82.6% and 62.1% for the AHRT group and CRT group, respectively(p=0.040). There was no statistically significant difference for severe late toxicity between the two groups(p=0.561). Conclusion: In this study, we observed that treatment with AHRT with concurrent chemotherapy allows a significant advantage of local control and survival for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.369-376
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• 1993

226 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with curative radiation therapy at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Dongsan hospital, Keimyung university, School of medicine, from July,1988 to May,1991 were evaluated. The patients with all stages of the disease were included in this study. The maximum and mean follow up durations were 60 and 43 months. The radiation therapy consisted of external irradiation to the whole pelvis (2700~4500 cGy) and boost parametrial doses (for a total of 4500~6300 cGy)with midline shild $(4{\times}10\;cm),$ and combined with intracavitary irradiation (5700~7500 cGy to point A). The distribution of patients according to the stage was as follows: stage IB 37 $(16.4\%),$ stage IIA 91 $(40.3\%),$ stage IIB 58 $(25.7\%),$ stage III 32 $(13.8\%),$ stage IV 8 $(3.5\%).$ The overall failure rate was $23.9\%$ (54 patients). The failure rate increased as a function of stage from $13.5\%$ in stage IB to $15.4\%$ in stage IIA, $25.9\%$ in stage IIB, $46.9\%$ in stage III, and $62.5\%$ in stage UV. The pelvic failure alone were 32 patients and 11 patients were as a components of other failure, and remaining 11 patients had distant metastasis only. Among the 43 patients of locoregional failure,28 patients were not controlled initially and in other words nearly half of total failures were due to residual tumor. The mean medial paracervical (point A) doses were 6700 cGy in stage IIB,7200 cGy in stage IIA,7450 cGy in stage IIB,7600 cGy in stage III and 8100 cGy in stage IV. The medial paracervical doses showed some correlation with tumor control rate in early stage of disease (stage Ib, IIA), but there were higher central failure rate in advanced stage in spite of higher paracervical doses. In advanced stage, failure were not reduced by simple increment of paracervical doses. To improve a locoregional control rate in advanced stages, it is necessary to give additional treatment such as concomitant chemoradiation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 1998

Purpose : It is not a simple task to achieve the ideal isodose curve with a standard vaginal applicator or sing1e plane needle impant in the paravaginal tissue when primary or recurrent gynecological neoplasms(cervical cancers, vaginal cancers and vulvar cancers) are treated as a boost following external beam radiotherapy. The authors introduce the development and construction of a simple, inexpensive, customized applicator for volume implant to maximize the radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing the dose to the rectum and the bladder. Materials and Methods : Nine patients underwent Ir-192 transperineal interstitial implantation for either recurrent(5 cases) or primary(3 cases) cervical cancers or primary vaginal cancer(1 case) between August 1994 and February 1998 at Ajou university hospital. First 3 cases were performed with a sing1e plane implant guided by digital palpation. Because of inadequate isodose coverage in the tumor volume in first 3 cases, we designed and constructed interstitial vaginal applicator for volume implant to improve tumor dose distribution and homogeneity while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. Our applicators consist of vaginal obturator and perineal template that made of the clear acrylamide and dental mold material$(Provil^{(R)})$. The applicators were customized individually according to the tumor size and its location Both HDR and LDR irradiation were given with these applicators accomodating 6 Fr needles(Microselectron Nucletron). The pretreatment planning prior to actual implant was performed whenever possible. Results : Needles can be inserted easily and evenly into the tumor volume through the holes of templates, requiring less efforts and time for the implant procedure. Our applicators made of materials available from commercial vendors. These have an advantage that require easy procedure, and spend relatively short time to construct. Also it was possible to fabricate applicators to individualize according to the tumor size and its location and to achieve the ideal isodose coverage. We found an accurate needle arrangement and ideal dose distribution through the CT scan that was obtained in 3 cases after needle implant. Three patients with primary cervical and vaginal cancers were controlled locally at final follow up. But all recurrent cases failed to do so. Conclusion : The authors introduce inexpensive, simple interstitial vaginal templates which were self-designed and constructed using materials available from commercial vendors such as acrylanide and dental mold material $(Provil^{(R)})$.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2014

In this study, we examine the trends and types of incidents frequently occur during radiation therapy by using the data from the radiation oncology safety information system (ROSIS), according to discovery method explores the development direction of future research accident cause factor control method. This study was carried out analysis of incident data in ROSIS nearly 1163 cases in last 11 years from 2003 to 2013. We categorized into treatment methods, found the time, discoverer of occupations and finding ways to analyze the data. Then, we calculate the percentage and the classification for each item. About 1163 cases of incident cases including the near miss cases, external radiation therapy, brachytherapy and other were 97%, 2% and 1%. In the case was improperly planned dose delivery was 44% (497 cases) which 429 cases (86%) was found before 3 fractions and 13 cases were found after 11 fractions. The investigation was found to be distributed in various a found times. Approximately 42% of found time was during treatment and 29% of patients were found the problem during inspection chart. Occupation to discover the most radiation accidents was the radiation therapist (53%) who works in treatment room. Among 1163 incidence cases, 24% cases were found the accident before the treatment, therefore most of accident were found after of during the treatment (70%, 813 cases). This trend is acquired through ROSIS analysis, is expected to be not significantly different in the case of Korea, so it is necessary more diverse and systematic research for the prevention and early detection by using the ROSIS data.