• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.70-81
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the dosimetric difference between intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in head and neck cancer (HNC). The study primarily focuses on low-dose spillage evaluation between these two techniques. Methods: This retrospective study involved 45 patients with HNC. The treatment plans were generated using the IMRT and VMAT techniques for all patients. Dosimetric comparisons were performed in terms of target coverage, organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing, and various parameters, including conformity index, uniformity index, homogeneity index, conformation number, low-dose volumes, and normal tissue integral dose (NTID). Results: No significant (P>0.05) difference in planning target volume coverage (D_95%) was observed between IMRT and VMAT plans for supraglottic larynx, hard palate, and tongue cancers. A decrease in dose volumes ranging from 1 Gy to 30 Gy was observed for VMAT plans compared with those for IMRT plans, except for V_1Gy and V_30Gy for supraglottic larynx cancer and V_1Gy for tongue cancer. Moreover, decreases (P<0.05) in NTID were observed for VMAT plans compared with that for IMRT plans in supraglottic larynx (4.50%), hard palate (12.80%), and tongue (7.76%) cancers. In contrast, a slight increase in monitor units for VMAT compared with those for IMRT in supraglottic larynx (0.46%), hard palate (2.54%), and tongue (7.56%) cancers. Conclusions: For advanced-stage HNC, both IMRT and VMAT offer satisfactory clinical plans. VMAT offers a conformal and homogeneous dose distribution with comparable OAR sparing and higher dose falloff outside the target volume than IMRT, which provides an edge to reduce the risk of secondary malignancies for HNC over IMRT.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.138-147
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• 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric variations in patients of head and neck cancer treated with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy using optimized non-coplanar (ncVMAT) beams with coplanar (cVMAT) beams using volumetric arc therapy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients of head and neck cancer that had received radiotherapy using VMAT in our department were retrospectively analyzed. Each of the patients was planned using coplanar and non-coplanar orientations using an optimized couch angle and fluences. We analyzed the Conformity Index (C_IRTOG), Dose Homogeneity Index (DHI), Heterogeneity Index (HI_RTOG), low dose volume, target and organs-at-risk coverage in both the plans without changing planning optimization parameters. Results: The prescription dose ranged from 60 Gy to 70 Gy. Using ncVMAT, C_IRTOG, DHI and HI_RTOG, and tumor coverage (ID_95%) had improved, low dose spillage volume in the body V_5Gy was increased and V_10Gy was reduced. Integral dose and intensity-modulated radiation therapy factor had increased in ncVMAT. In the case of non-coplanar beam arrangements, maximum dose (D_max) of right and left humeral head were reduced significantly whereas apex of the right and left lung mean dose were increased. Conclusion: The use of ncVMAT produced better target coverage and sparing of the shoulder and soft tissue of the neck as well as the critical organ compared with the cVMAT in patients of head and neck malignancy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권6호
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• pp.753-760
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• 2018

Objective : We investigated the effect of optimization in dose-limiting shell method on the dosimetric quality of CyberKnife (CK) plans in treating brain metastases (BMs). Methods : We selected 19 BMs previously treated using CK between 2014 and 2015. The original CK plans ($CK_{original}$) had been produced using 1 to 3 dose-limiting shells : one at the prescription isodose level (PIDL) for dose conformity and the others at low-isodose levels (10-30% of prescription dose) for dose spillage. In each case, a modified CK plan ($CK_{modified}$) was generated using 5 dose-limiting shells : one at the PIDL, another at intermediate isodose level (50% of prescription dose) for steeper dose fall-off, and the others at low-isodose levels, with an optimized shell-dilation size based on our experience. A Gamma Knife (GK) plan was also produced using the original contour set. Thus, three data sets of dosimetric parameters were generated and compared. Results : There were no differences in the conformity indices among the $CK_{original}$, $CK_{modified}$, and GK plans (mean 1.22, 1.18, and 1.24, respectively; p=0.079) and tumor coverage (mean 99.5%, 99.5%, and 99.4%, respectively; p=0.177), whereas the $CK_{modified}$ plans produced significantly smaller normal tissue volumes receiving 50% of prescription dose than those produced by the $CK_{original}$ plans (p<0.001), with no statistical differences in those volumes compared with GK plans (p=0.345). Conclusion : These results indicate that significantly steeper dose fall-off is able to be achieved in the CK system by optimizing the shell function while maintaining high conformity of dose to tumor.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권7호
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• pp.2606-2613
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• 2022

Spent resin often exceeds radiation limits for safe disposal, creating a need for commercial-scale treatment techniques to reduce resin radioactivity. In this study, the radiological safety of a commercialized spent resin treatment device with a treatment capacity of 1 ton/day was evaluated. The results confirm that the device is radiologically safe in the event of an accident. This device desorbs ¹⁴C from the spent resin, allowing disposal as low-level waste instead of intermediate-level waste. The device also reduces overall waste by recycling the extracted ¹⁴C. Potential accident scenarios were explored to enable dose assessments for both internal and external exposure while preventing further spillage of the device and processing the spilled resin. The scenarios involved the development of a surface fracture on the resin mixture separator and microwave systems, which were operated under pressure and temperature of 0-6 bar and 0-150 ℃, respectively. In the case of accidents with separator and microwave device, the maximum allowable working time of worker were derived, respectively, considering external and internal exposures. When wearing the respirator corresponding to APF 50, in the case of the microwave device accident scenario, the radiological safety was confirmed when the maximum worker worked within 132.1 h.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

목 적 : 전립선암의 방사선치료는 치료기법에 따라 주요장기와 정상조직의 선량분포에 차이가 나타난다. 본 연구에서는 전립선암 환자의 수술 후 방사선치료 시 직장풍선을 삽입한 환자에게 회전수를 달리한 용적변조회전치료(volumetric modulated arc therapy, VMAT)계획과 세기변조방사선치료(intensity modulated radiation therapy, IMRT)계획을 각각 수립하여 선량분포 특성을 비교하고 치료의 효율성을 평가하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 본원에서 전립선암 수술 후 방사선 치료를 시행한 10명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 직장풍선을 삽입한 환자의 CT영상을 3 mm 두께로 획득하고 Eclipse (Ver 11.0, Varian, Palo Alto, USA)를 사용하여 HD120MLC가 장착된 Truebeam STx (Varian, Palo Alto, USA)의 10 MV 에너지를 적용하였다. 환자마다 1 Arc, 2 Arc VMAT계획과 7조사면의 IMRT계획을 수립하였으며 각 치료계획의 선량체적제한과 plan normalization 값은 동일하게 적용하였다. 수립된 세 가지 치료계획을 평가하기위해 PTV의 coverage, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI)를 비교하였고, PTV주변 정상조직의 선량퍼짐정도를 알아보기 위해 50% 등선량체적과 PTV체적의 비($R_{50%}$)를 산출하였다. 결정장기 (organ at risk, OAR)에서는 직장의 $D_{25%}$와 방광의 $D_{mean}$을 비교하였고 치료의 효율성을 평가하기 위해서 총 MU와 조사시간을 측정하였으며, 각 평가항목별 결과는 환자 10명의 평균값으로 비교분석하였다. 추가적으로 선량전달 정확도를 검증하기 위해 EPID를 이용한 portal dosimetry를 진행하였다. 결 과 : 각 치료계획에서 나타난 PTV coverage와 HI의 차이는 크지 않았지만 CI는 1A-VMAT, 2A-VMAT, 7F-IMRT에서 각각 1.036, 1.035, 1.230으로 VMAT에 비해 7F-IMRT가 높았고(p=0.00), $R_{50%}$는 3.083, 3.054, 3.991로 2A-VMAT이 제일 낮았고 7F-IMRT에서 가장 높게 나타났다(p=0.00). 치료계획에 따른 직장의 $D_{25%}$는 VMAT에서 비슷했지만 7F-IMRT가 약 7% 높게 나타났고(p=0.02), 방광의 $D_{mean}$은 큰 차이가 없었다(P>0.05). 총 MU는 1A-VMAT, 2A-VMAT, 7F-IMRT에서 각각 494.7, 479.7, 757.9로 7F-IMRT가 가장 많았고(p=0.00), 조사시간은 65.2초, 133.1초, 145.5초로 1A-VMAT이 확연히 짧았다(p=0.00). portal dosimetry 검증에서는 모든 치료계획에서 99.5% 이상의 gamma pass rate(2 mm, 2%)을 보였다(P=0.00). 결 론 : 본 연구결과 직장풍선을 삽입한 전립선암 환자의 수술 후 방사선치료 시, 치료기법에 따른 PTV coverage의 차이는 크지 않았지만 1A, 2A-VMAT이 7F-IMRT에 비해 정상조직과 직장선량을 낮추는데 효과적이었다. VMAT중에서는 $R_{50%}$와 MU가 2A-VMAT에서 다소 낮았지만 조사시간이 짧은 1A-VMAT이 치료에 더 효율적이며 환자의 치료 중 움직임 또한 줄일 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.