• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2002

Purpose : In order to improve dose homogeneity and to reduce acute toxicity in tangential whole breast radiotherapy, we evaluated two treatment techniques using multiple static fields or universal compensators. Materials and Methods : 1) Multistatic field technique : Using a three dimensional radiation treatment planning system, Adac Pinnacle 4.0, we accomplished a conventional wedged tangential plan. Examining the isodose distributions, a third field which blocked overdose regions was designed and an opposing field was created by using an automatic function of RTPS. Weighting of the beams was tuned until an ideal dose distribution was obtained. Another pair of beams were added when the dose homogeneity was not satisfactory. 2) Universal compensator technique : The breast shapes and sizes were obtained from the CT images of 20 patients who received whole breast radiation therapy at our institution. The data obtained were averaged and a pair of universal physical compensators were designed for the averaged data. DII (Dose Inhomogeneity Index : percentage volume of PTV outside $95\~105\%$ of the prescribed dose) $D_{max}$ (the maximum point dose in the PTV) and isodose distributions for each technique were compared. Results : The multistatic field technique was found to be superior to the conventional technique, reducing the mean value of DII by $14.6\%$ (p value<0.000) and the $D_{max}$ by $4.7\%$ (p value<0.000). The universal compensator was not significantly superior to the conventional technique since it decreased $D_{max}$ by $0.3\%$ (p value=0.867) and reduced DII by $3.7\%$ (p value=0.260). However, it decreased the value of DII by maximum $18\%$ when patients' breast shapes fitted in with the compensator geometry. Conclusion : The multistatic field technique is effective for improving dose homogeneity for whole breast radiation therapy and is applicable to all patients, whereas the use of universal compensators is effective only in patients whose breast shapes fit inwith the universal compensator geometry, and thus has limited applicability.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 1995

Purpose : The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness, survival rate and complication of radiation in nasopharyngeal cancer. Materials and Methods : From January 1980 to May 1989. Fifty patients who had nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with curative radiation therapy at Kosin Medical Center were retrospectively studied. Thirty seven patients($74{\%}$) were treated with radiation therapy alone(Group I) and 13 patients ($26{\%}$) treated with combination of chemotherapy and radiation (Group II). Age distribution was 16-75 years(median : 45.8 years). In histologic type, squamous cell carcinoma was in 30 patients($60{\%}$), undifferentiated carcinoma in 17 patients($34{\%}$), and lymphoepithelioma in 3 patients($6{\%}$). According t AJCC staging system. 4 patients($8{\%}$) were in $T_1$, 13 patients($26{\%}$) in $T_2$. 20 patients($40{\%}$) in $T_3$, 13 patients($26{\%}$) in $T_4$ and 7 patients($14{\%}$) in $N_0$, 6 patients($12{\%}$) $N_1$, 23 patients($46{\%}$) in $N_2$, 14 patients($28{\%}$) in $N_3$. Total radiation dose ranges were 5250-9200cGy(median : 7355 cGy) in Group I and 5360-8400cGy(median : 6758cGy) in Group II Radiotherapy on 4-6MV linear accelerator and/or 6-12MeV electron in boost radiation was given with conventional technique to 26 patients($52{\%}$), with hyperfractionation(115-120cGy/fr., 2times/day) to 16 patients($32{\%}$), with accelerated fractionation(160cGy/fr., 2 times/day) to 8 patients($16{\%}$). In chemotherapy, 5 FU 1000mg daily for 5 consecutive days, pepleomycin 10mg on days 1 and 3, and cisplatin 100mg on day 1 were administered with 3weeks interval, total 1 to 3 cycles(average 1.8cycles) prior to radiation therapy. Follow up duration was 6-140 months(mean : 58 months). Statistics was calculated with Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Results : Complete local control rates in Group I and II were $75.7{\%},\;69.2{\%} Overall 5 year survival rates in Group I and II were $56.8{\%},\;30.8{\%}$. Five year survival rates by histologic type in Group I and II were $52.2{\%},\;14.3{\%}$ is squamous cell carcinoma and $54.5{\%},\;50{\%}$ in undifferentiated carcinoma. Survival rates in Group I were superior to those of Group II though there were not statistically significant. In both group, survival rates seem to be increased according to increasing total dose of radiation up to 7500cGy, but not increased beyond it. There were not statistically significant differences in survival rates by age, stage, and radiation techniques in both group. Twenty four patients($48{\%}$) experienced treatment failures. Complications were found in 12 patients($24{\%}$). The most common one was osteomyelitis(4 patients, $33.3{\%}$) involving mandible (3 patients) and maxilla(1 patient). Conclusion : Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy was found to be not effective to nasopharyngeal cancer and the survival rate was also inferior to that of radiation alone group though it was statistically not significant due to small population in chemotherapy combined group.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.190-196
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• 2017

For the $ViewRay^{(R)}$ system (ViewRay Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA) which is representative of magnetic resonance (MR) guided radiotherapy machine, it is important to evaluate effectiveness of AAPM's TG-51 protocol and the effect of the magnetic field on absolute dosimetry. In order to measure the absolute dose, MR-compatible chamber and water phantom system manufactured in this study were used. The materials of the water phantom system were plastic of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and non-ferrous materials. Due to the inherent feature of the $ViewRay^{(R)}$, all Co-60 sources are not located at gantry angle of $0^{\circ}$ while being located at gantry angle of $90^{\circ}$. For this reason, absolute dosimetry was performed based on the measurements in solid water phantom (SWP) and water which determine the SWP to water correction factor. For evaluation of output constancy with gantry angle, measurements were made with ionization chamber inserted in cylindrical water-equivalent phantom. For measured doses in water, the values of dose deviation according to a reference dose of 200 cGy for Head 1, Head 2 and Head 3 were -0.27%, -0.45% and -0.22%, respectively. For measured doses in SWP, the values of dose deviation according to a reference dose of 200 cGy for Head 1, Head 2 and Head 3 were -1.91%, -2.07% and -1.84%, respectively. All values of dose measured in SWP tended to be less than those measured in water by -1.63%. With the reference gantry angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, the maximum values of deviation for Head 1, Head 2 and Head 3 were 0.48%, 1.06% and 0.40%, respectively. The measurement agreement is within the range of results obtainable for conventional treatment machines. The low strength of the magnetic field does not affect dose measurements. Using the SWP to water correction factor, absolute doses for $ViewRay^{(R)}$ system can be measured.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.253-262
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• 1994

The patterns of the conventional radiation treatment fields and their shielding blocks are analysed to determine the optimal dimension of the MultiLeaf Collimator (MLC) which is considered as an essential tool for conformal therapy. Total 1109 radiation fields from 303 patients (203 from Asan Medical center, 50 from Baek Hosp and 50 from Hanyang Univ. Hosp.) were analysed for this study. Weighted case selection treatment site (from The Korean Society of Therapeutic Radiology 1993). Ninety one percent of total fields have shielding blocks. Y axis is defined as leaf movement direction and it is assumed that MLC is installed on the cranial-caudal direction. The length of X axis were distributed from 4cm to 40cm (less than 21cm for $95\%$ of cases), and Y axis from 5cm to 38cm (less than 22cm for $95\%$ of cases). The shielding blocks extended to less than 6cm from center of the field for $95\%$ of the cases. Start length for ninety five percent of block is less than 10cm for X axis and 11cm for Y axis. Seventy six percent of shielding blocks could be placed by either X or Y axis direction, $7.9\%$ only by Y axis, $5.1\%$ only by X axis and It is reasonable to install MLC for Y direction. Ninety five percent of patients can be treated with coplanar rotation therapy without changing the collimator angle. Eleven percent of cases of cases were impossible to replace with MLC. Futher study of shielding technique is needed for $11\%$ impossible cases. The treatment field dimension of MLC should be larger than $21cm{\times}22cm$. The MLC should be designed as a pair of 21 leaves with 1cm wide for an acceptable resolution and 17cm long to enable the leaf to overtravel at least 6cm from the treatment field center.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.183-191
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• 1993

The homogeneous dose planning is one of the most important roles in radiation therapy. But, it is not easy to obtain a homogeneous dose to paranasal sinus region including the ethmoidal sinus with conventional irradiation techniques. In this experimental study, the authors tried to get a homogeneous dose at PNS region, but the nasal cartirage does not exceed the tolerance dose, with anterior-posterior beam and two both lateral wedged beams. Used three fields were shielded with full thickness of blocks to preserve the eye-balls and with blocks of one half value layer to create a homogeneous dose at the whole treatment volume. The dose computations are based on the three dimensonal structure with modified scatter contributions of partial shielders and attenuated beams in 6 MV photon beams. The dose distributions of mid-plane is examined with Kodak verification films and teflon-embedded TLD rod (1 mm diameter and 6 mm length) to confirm the computed dose. In our study, the whole PNS regions have shown within $85{\%}$ of the resultant isodose curves with relatively homogeneous dose distribution. The results of dose computation and measurements are agree well within $5{\%}$ uncertainties.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 1998

Brachytherapy is an essential part of radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer. The low dose rate (LDR) regimen has been the major technique of intracavitary therapy for cervical cancer. However, there has been an expansion in the last 20 years of high dose rate (HDR) machines using Ir-192 sources. Since 1979, HDR brachytherapy has been used for the treatment of uterine cervical cancer in Korea. The number of institutions employing HDR has been increasing, while the number of low dose rate system has been constant. In 1995, there was a total 27 HDR brachytherapy units installed and 1258 cases of patients with cervical cancer were treated with HDR Most common regimens of HDR brachytherapy are total dose of 30-39 Gy at point A with 10-13 fractions in three fractions per week. 24-32 Gy with 6-8 fractions in two fractions per week, and 30-35 Gy with 6-7 fractions in two fractions per week. The average fractionation regimen of HDR brachytherapy is about 8 fractions of 4.1 Gy each to Point A. In Korea, treatment results for HDR brachytherapy are comparable with the LDR series and appears to be a safe and effective alternative to LDR therapy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. Studies from the major centers report the five-year survival rate of cervical cancer as. 78-86$\%$ for Stage 1, 68-85$\%$ for stage 11, and 38-56$\%$ for Stage III. World-wide questionnaire study and Japanese questionnaire survey of multiple institutions showed no survival difference in any stages and dose-rate effect ratio (HDR/LDR) was calculated to be 0.54 to 0.58. However the optimum treatment doses and fractionation schemes appropriate to generate clinical results comparable to conventional LDR schemes have yet to be standardized. In conclusion, HDR intracavitary radiotherapy is increasingly practiced in Korea and an effective treatment modality for cervical cancer. To determine the optimum radiotherapy dose and fractionation schedule, a nation-wide prospective study is necessary in Korea. In addition, standardization of HDR application (clinical, computer algorithms, and dosimetric aspects) is necessary.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 1991

From February 1987 through July 1990, the seventeen cases of inoperable intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) were treated using 6 MV linear accelerator at the Division of Therapautic Radiology, Kang Nam 51. Mary's Hospital. Of seventeen cases, fourteen were male and three were female. Ages ranged from 10 to 51 years (median age of 25 years). The main symtoms were headache, epilepsy and hemiparesis in decreasing order of frequency. The middle cerebral artery is the most common origin of the feeding vessel $(41.2\%)$. Four were treated by conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CRT, thirteen were treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (RS). duration or follow-up in CRT and RS group were 4 to 43 months (median 33 months) and 3 to 12 months (median 13 months), respectively. When the response was assessed by radiologic follow-up study, two of four CRT group showed minimal response. Of thirteen cases of RS group, two $(15.4\%)$ showed complete response, five $(38\%)$ partial response, two $(15.4\%)$ minimal response and four $(30.7\%)$ no response by the same assessment. There was no statistical significance in terms of follow-up period (p=0.22), size of lesion (p=0.82) and treated dose (p=0.05). Further accumulation of experience is recommended with proper case selection and sufficient follow-up period.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify dosimetric results and reproducibility of position during craniospinal irradiation (CSI) using tomotherapy (Accuray Incorporated, USA). Also, by comparing with conventional CSI Technique, we confirmed the efficiency of using a Tomotherapy. Materials and Methods: 10 CSI patients who get tomotherapy participate. Patient-specific quality assurances (QA) for each patient are conducted before treatment. When treating, we took Megavoltage Computed Tomography (MVCT) that range of head and neck before treatment, L spine area after treatment. Also we conducted in-vivo dosimetry to check a scalp dose. Finally, we made a 3D conventional radiation therapy(3D-CRT) of those patients to compare dosimetric differences with tomotherapy treatment planning. Results: V107, V95 of brain is 0 %, 97.2 % in tomotherapy, and 0.3 %, 95.1 % in 3D-CRT. In spine, value of V107, V95 is 0.2 %, 18.6 % in tomotherapy and 89.6 %, 69.9 % in 3D-CRT. Except kidney and lung, tomotherapy reduced normal organ doses than 3D-CRT. The maximum positioning error value of X, Y, Z was 10.2 mm, -8.9 mm, -11.9 mm. Through in-vivo dosimetry, the average of scalp dose was 67.8 % of prescription dose. All patient-specific QA were passed by tolerance value. Conclusion: CSI using tomotherapy had a risk of parallel organ such as lung and kidney because of integral dose in low dose area. However, it demonstrated dosimetric superiority at a target and saved normal organ to reduce high dose. Also results of reproducibility were not exceeded margins that estimated treatment planning and invivo dosimetry showed to reduce scalp dose. Therefore, CSI using tomotherapy is considered to efficient method to make up for 3D-CRT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2019

In the field of radiotherapy, the Quality Assurance(QA) procedure to verify the safety of treatment is considered to be very important. However, due to various problems of the conventional dosimeters used for the QA, researches on these dosimeters have been actively carried out to replace them. In this study, to maximize the sensitivity by visible light(VL) emitted from phosphors, blended hybrid sensors were fabricated by blending various weight percent(wt%) of $Gd_2O_2S:Tb$ which is a phosphor with excellent fluorescence efficiency into $PbI_2$. Then, the electrical properties to high energy radiation from the blended sensors and the pure $PbI_2$ sensor were compared and evaluated. As a result of the sensitivity evaluation, the sensor of 3wt% showed the highest value with more than 40% difference from the other sensors, and gradual decreasing in sensitivity was observed with increasing wt% except for the sensor of 3wt%. Also, in the reproducibility evaluation, the pure $PbI_2$ sensor exhibited a large variation in coefficient of variation(CV)>0.015, while all the blended sensors showed CV<0.015.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.70-80
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• 2015

The spinal cord is highly complex, consisting of a specialized neural network that comprised both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Any kind of injury and/or insult to the spinal cord leads to a series of damaging events resulting in motor and/or sensory deficits below the level of injury. As a result, muscle paralysis (or paresis) leading to muscle atrophy or shrinking of the muscle along with changes in muscle fiber type, and contractile properties have been observed. Traditionally, histology had been used as a gold standard to characterize spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced adaptation in spinal cord and skeletal muscle. However, histology measurements is invasive and cannot be used for longitudinal analysis. Therefore, the use of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is promoted to be used as an alternative non-invasive method, which allows the repeated measurements over time and secures the safety against radiation by using radiofrequency pulse. Currently, many of pathological changes and adaptations occurring after SCI can be measured by MRI methods, specifically 3-dimensional MRI with the advanced diffusion tensor imaging technique. Both techniques have shown to be sensitive in measuring morphological and structural changes in skeletal muscle and the spinal cord.