• Title/Summary/Keyword: Performance Planning

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Development of Preliminary Quality Assurance Software for $GafChromic^{(R)}$ EBT2 Film Dosimetry ($GafChromic^{(R)}$ EBT2 Film Dosimetry를 위한 품질 관리용 초기 프로그램 개발)

  • Park, Ji-Yeon;Lee, Jeong-Woo;Choi, Kyoung-Sik;Hong, Semie;Park, Byung-Moon;Bae, Yong-Ki;Jung, Won-Gyun;Suh, Tae-Suk
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.113-119
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    • 2010
  • Software for GafChromic EBT2 film dosimetry was developed in this study. The software provides film calibration functions based on color channels, which are categorized depending on the colors red, green, blue, and gray. Evaluations of the correction effects for light scattering of a flat-bed scanner and thickness differences of the active layer are available. Dosimetric results from EBT2 films can be compared with those from the treatment planning system ECLIPSE or the two-dimensional ionization chamber array MatriXX. Dose verification using EBT2 films is implemented by carrying out the following procedures: file import, noise filtering, background correction and active layer correction, dose calculation, and evaluation. The relative and absolute background corrections are selectively applied. The calibration results and fitting equation for the sensitometric curve are exported to files. After two different types of dose matrixes are aligned through the interpolation of spatial pixel spacing, interactive translation, and rotation, profiles and isodose curves are compared. In addition, the gamma index and gamma histogram are analyzed according to the determined criteria of distance-to-agreement and dose difference. The performance evaluations were achieved by dose verification in the $60^{\circ}$-enhanced dynamic wedged field and intensity-modulated (IM) beams for prostate cancer. All pass ratios for the two types of tests showed more than 99% in the evaluation, and a gamma histogram with 3 mm and 3% criteria was used. The software was developed for use in routine periodic quality assurance and complex IM beam verification. It can also be used as a dedicated radiochromic film software tool for analyzing dose distribution.

Extra Dose Measurement of Differential Slice Thickness of MVCT Image with Helical Tomotherapy (토모테라피 치료 시 MVCT Image의 Slice Thickness 차이에 따른 선량 비교)

  • Lee, Byungkoo;Kang, Suman
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.145-149
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    • 2013
  • Helical Tomotherapy is an innovative means of delivering intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a device that merges features of a linear accelerator and helical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Hereat, during helical tomotherapy process, megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image are usually used for guiding the precise set-up of patient before/after treatment delivery. But which would certainly increase the total dose for patients, this study was to investigate the imaging dose of MVCT using the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom on a tomotherapy machine. A set of cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was adopted for scanning with respectively pitch value (1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), same length (approximately 9 cm) and phantom set-ups on the couch of tomotherapy system. The average MVCT imaging dose were measured using A1SL ion chamber inserted in the phantom with preset geometry. The MVCT scanning average dose for the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was 2.24 cGy, 1.02 cGy, 0.81 cGy during respectively pitch value (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), and same length's average dose was 2.47 cGy, 1.28 cGy, 0.88 cGy respectively (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm). Two major parameters, the assigned pitch numbers and scanning length, where the most important impacts to the dose variation. The MVCT dose was inversely proportional to the CT pitch value. The results may provide a reliable guidance for proper planning design of the scanning region, which is valuable to help minimize the extra dose to patient. Questionnaires were distributed to Radiology departments at hospitals with 300 sickbeds throughout the Pohang region of North Gyeongsang Province concerning awareness and performance levels of infection control. The investigation included measurements of the pollution levels of imaging equipment and assistive apparatuses in order to prepare a plan for the activation of prevention and management of hospital infections. The survey was designed to question respondents in regards to personal data, infection management prevention education, and infection management guidelines.

Analysis of characteristics affecting the score-groups by supervisor and subordinate rating (하향평가와 상향평가 결과에 영향을 미치는 특성 분석)

  • Shin Ki Soo;Cho Woo Hyun;Park Young Yo;Jung Sang Huyk;Lee Hye Jean
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.97-117
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    • 2005
  • This study was designed to compare the differences m results of supervisor and subordinate rating. Data was collected from personnel evaluation and subordinate rating results for middle managers(n=68) in hospital from 3rd January to 20th March in 2004. Supervisor rating consisted of performance, ability and attitude evaluation. Subordinate rating consisted of leadership, ability and attitude evaluation. Collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, work department, work level, years of work, years at present level and whether working in a patient serving department. The difference of standardized supervisor and subordinate rating score was used to define groups as 'higher in supervisor rating group'. Groups were defined in total score, ability score and attitude score. Main results were as follows: 1. In total score, sectional chiefs were apt to be 'higher in subordinate rating group' while chief clerks were apt to be 'similar group' or 'higher in supervisor rating group'. Staffs in patient serving department were likely to be 'higher in supervisor rating group' and staffs in non-patient serving department were likely to be 'higher in subordinate rating group'. All these results were statistically significant. 2. In ability score, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, years of education, work department, work level, years of work and whether working in a patient serving department among 'higher in supervisor rating group', 'similar group' and 'higher in subordinate rating group'. 3. In attitude score, staffs in the department of medical affairs and the department of administration were apt to be 'higher in subordinate rating group'. Staffs in the department of nursing were apt to be 'higher in supervisor rating group'. Staffs in a patient serving department were likely to be 'higher in supervisor rating group' and staffs in a non-patient serving department were likely to be 'higher in subordinate rating group'. All these results were statistically significant. 4. Logistic analysis about total score showed that sectional chiefs had higher Odds Ratio(OR) to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group'. Staffs in a non-patient serving department had higher OR to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group'. Both these results were statistically significant. 5. Logistic analysis about ability score showed that sectional chiefs had higher OR to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group'. Staffs in a non-patient serving department had higher OR to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group'. These results were not statistically significant. 6. Logistic analysis about total score showed that sectional chiefs had higher OR to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group', but the difference was not statistically significant. Staffs in a non-patient serving department had significantly higher OR to be in 'higher in subordinate rating group'. In conclusion, there is no clear superiority between supervisor and subordinate rating in personnel evaluation. It would be better to use a mixed model. It's also suggested to use an intervening rate of application or scores considering work levels and work department in personnel evaluation. These results would be helpful for hospitals planning a supervisor and subordinate rating system for personnel evaluation.

The Accuracy Evaluation according to Dose Delivery Interruption and Restart for Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (용적변조회전 방사선치료에서 선량전달의 중단 및 재시작에 따른 정확성 평가)

  • Lee, Dong Hyung;Bae, Sun Myung;Kwak, Jung Won;Kang, Tae Young;Back, Geum Mun
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.77-85
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    • 2013
  • Purpose: The accurate movement of gantry rotation, collimator and correct application of dose rate are very important to approach the successful performance of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), because it is tightly interlocked with a complex treatment plan. The interruption and restart of dose delivery, however, are able to occur on treatment by various factors of a treatment machine and treatment plan. If unexpected problems of a treat machine or a patient interrupt the VMAT, the movement of treatment machine for delivering the remaining dose will be restarted at the start point. In this investigation, We would like to know the effect of interruptions and restart regarding dose delivery at VMAT. Materials and Methods: Treatment plans of 10 patients who had been treated at our center were used to measure and compare the dose distribution of each VMAT after converting to a form of digital image and communications in Medicine (DICOM) with treatment planning system (Eclipse V 10.0, Varian, USA). We selected the 6 MV photon energy of Trilogy (Varian, USA) and used OmniPro I'mRT system (V 1.7b, IBA dosimetry, Germany) to analyze the data that were acquired through this measurement with two types of interruptions four times for each case. The door interlock and the beam-off were used to stop and then to restart the dose delivery of VMAT. The gamma index in OmniPro I'mRT system and T-test in Microsoft Excel 2007 were used to evaluate the result of this investigation. Results: The deviations of average gamma index in cases with door interlock, beam-off and without interruption on VMAT are 0.141, 0.128 and 0.1. The standard deviations of acquired gamma values are 0.099, 0.091, 0.071 and The maximum gamma value in each case is 0.413, 0.379, 0.286, respectively. This analysis has a 95-percent confidence level and the P-value of T-test is under 0.05. Gamma pass rate (3%, 3 mm) is acceptable in all of measurements. Conclusion: As a result, We could make sure that the interruption of this investgation are not enough to seriously affect dose delivery of VMAT by analyzing the measured data. But this investigation did not reflect all cases about interruptions and errors regarding the movement of a gantry rotation, collimator and patient So, We should continuously maintain a treatment machine and program to deliver the accurate dose when we perform the VMAT for the many kinds of cancer patients.

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The Medical Doctors' Opinion of Public Health Center on the Development and Supply of Medical Doctor for Public Health Sector (공공보건분야 의사 인력 양성과 개발에 대한 보건소 근무 의사들의 인식)

  • Lee, Kyeong-Soo;Lee, Jung-Jeung;Kim, Jin-Sam;Hwang, Tae-Yoon;Son, Hyo-Kyung;Kim, Chun-Bae
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.303-315
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    • 2009
  • Objectives: This study, as for activating measures for capable medical physicians to penetrate into the public health sector, is to provide a basic informations which are used for the enlargement of human resources of physicians in the public health sector, by investigating the perception of physicians, who are now working in the public health center, on the training and development of physicians in the public health sector. Methods: The subjects of this study were 126 individuals. The data was analyzed by frequency analysis using SPSS ver. 17.0K. Results: According to the investigation of 'how to support physicians in public health sector', the necessity of almost questions is considered to be important. Especially, regarding to investigation on 'obstacles of physicians' entrance to public health sector', 'relatively low salary' and 'lack of promotion chances' were thought to be considerable. The most significant education programs to work for public health sector is to improve the ability of health administration planning and service performance. Conclusions: The important methods to reinforce and easily obtain the human resources of physicians in public health sector are not only to improve the penetration of physicians to public health sector, but also to enhance the ability of present physicians, even though sufficient recruitment of physicians is essential.

Definition of Tumor Volume Based on 18F-Fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Radiation Therapy for Liver Metastases: An Relational Analysis Study between Image Parameters and Image Segmentation Methods (간 전이 암 환자의 18F-FDG PET 기반 종양 영역 정의: 영상 인자와 자동 영상 분할 기법 간의 관계분석)

  • Kim, Heejin;Park, Seungwoo;Jung, Haijo;Kim, Mi-Sook;Yoo, Hyung Jun;Ji, Young Hoon;Yi, Chul-Young;Kim, Kum Bae
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.99-107
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    • 2013
  • The surgical resection was occurred mainly in liver metastasis before the development of radiation therapy techniques. Recently, Radiation therapy is increased gradually due to the development of radiation dose delivery techniques. 18F-FDG PET image showed better sensitivity and specificity in liver metastasis detection. This image modality is important in the radiation treatment with planning CT for tumor delineation. In this study, we applied automatic image segmentation methods on PET image of liver metastasis and examined the impact of image factors on these methods. We selected the patients who were received the radiation therapy and 18F-FDG PET/CT in Korea Cancer Center Hospital from 2009 to 2012. Then, three kinds of image segmentation methods had been applied; The relative threshold method, the Gradient method and the region growing method. Based on these results, we performed statistical analysis in two directions. 1. comparison of GTV and image segmentation results. 2. performance of regression analysis for relation between image factor affecting image segmentation techniques. The mean volume of GTV was $60.9{\pm}65.9$ cc and the $GTV_{40%}$ was $22.43{\pm}35.27$ cc, and the $GTV_{50%}$ was $10.11{\pm}17.92$ cc, the $GTV_{RG}$ was $32.89{\pm}36.8$4 cc, the $GTV_{GD}$ was $30.34{\pm}35.77$ cc, respectively. The most similar segmentation method with the GTV result was the region growing method. For the quantitative analysis of the image factors which influenced on the region growing method, we used the standardized coefficient ${\beta}$, factors affecting the region growing method show GTV, $TumorSUV_{MAX/MIN}$, $SUV_{max}$, TBR in order. The result of the region growing (automatic segmentation) method showed the most similar result with the CT based GTV and the region growing method was affected by image factors. If we define the tumor volume by the auto image segmentation method which reflect the PET image parameters, more accurate and consistent tumor contouring can be done. And we can irradiate the optimized radiation dose to the cancer, ultimately.

A Study on the Necessity of Verification and Certification System of Inspection and Diagnostic Equipment for Infrastructure using Advanced Technologies (첨단 시설물 점검 및 진단장비 검·인증제도 도입 필요성에 대한 연구)

  • Hong, Sung-Ho;Kim, Jung-Gon;Cho, Jae-Young;Kim, Twae-Hwan
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.163-177
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: While it is very important to maintain facilities recently, the introduction and its application of high technology in the facility maintenance industry has increased. It is necessary for high technology to secure reliability through the verification and certification system of diagnostic equipment to have an effective impact in the field, but there is difference between the industry's perspective and realistic level of technology apart from social demand for the system of the system. This paper dealt with the introduction of a verification and certification system for rational facility diagnostic equipment with the opinion survey on managers about the current situation. Method: Survey is carried out targeting managers in the maintenance and construction regarding the necessity and urgency of introducing a verification and certification system to promote the introduction and its application of high technology of diagnostic equipment and facility inspection. Also, the introduction to a verification and certification system was reviewed for advanced facility diagnostic equipment through foreign research about similar systems and comparative analysis of similar systems related to the certification of 21 domestic equipment. Result: It showed that, regarding the application of high technology, it is necessary for most managers to introduce high technology such as drones, robots, etc., in the maintenance industry, and when high technology is introduced, it will have a considerable effect in the field. On the other hand, the current technology level in Korea is relatively low, so it turned out to take a certain amount of time for the application of technology. Also, it was found that the management of reliable facility diagnostic equipment will be possible through the introduction of the verification and certification system for facility diagnosis equipment. Meanwhile, the survey is conducted on similar systems about foreign and domestic diagnosis and measuring equipment, etc., but there is no system to verify and certify equipment applied with high technology directly to facility diagnosis maintenance. However, because Japan has a system of verifying the performance of diagnostic equipment and South Korea has 21 similar inspection and diagnostic equipment certification systems among 186 certification systems, it is considered to be possible to design systems which utilize them. Conclusion: According to the managers' opinion, it seems that the introduction of the system supporting the application of 4th industrial technology for the equipment and the use of the equipment with high reliability has sufficient validity. However, because our high technology level is undervalued compared to the urgency, the system for checking high technology facilities and certifying diagnostic equipment should be to be implemented in form of escalation considering technical use and verification level. Apart from the introduction of the verification and certification system, it is necessary for special investment, support and efforts to promote advanced facility diagnostic equipment.

Effect of Feeding-Induced Molting on the Performance and Egg Quality in Laying Hens (급이에 의한 강제 환우 방법이 산란계의 생산성과 계란 품질에 미치는 영향)

  • Na, J.C.;Yu, D.J.;Bang, H.T.;Kim, S.H.;Kim, J.H.;Kang, G.H.;Kim, H.K.;Park, S.B.;Suh, O.S.;Jang, B.G.;Choi, J.T.;Choi, H.S.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.171-176
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    • 2008
  • Animal welfare advocates, claim that the induced molting by fasting be avoided. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of molting induced by various feeding methods on productivity and egg quality in laying hens. We used 400 flocks of 60-week-old leghorn laying hens in four treatments(five replicates of 20 hens each): fasting method (C), feeding single corn grain diet (T1), feeding single wheat bran diet (T2) and feeding single alfalfa meal diet (T3). As the result of the experiment, egg production and daily egg mass significantly decreased only in T1 compared with the control during the $1{\sim}4th$ week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05). Although the amount of feed intake was significantly less in T1 group during the $1{\sim}4th$ week compared to the control, no significant difference was detected during the total period (P>0.05). In addition, no significant difference of feed conversion was observed between treatment groups. In terms of egg quality, the egg shell thickness was significantly improved in T1 group than the control group by feeding only corn at the 10th and 14th week after the secondary egg laying (P<0.05), but the significant decrease was observed at the corn (T1) and wheat bran (T2) fed treatment groups than the control group at the 26th week of the experiment (P<0.05). The eggshell strength and haugh unit did not show any difference by the molting methods. Egg yolk color was significantly decreased in T1 and T2 group than the control group at the 6th week (P<0.05). However, T1 and T2 group resulted to show significantly high egg yolk color at the 18th week of the experiment (P<0.05). As the result of the experiment, no large difference was observed in the productivity by the feeding molting method and by the fasting induced molting method. In addition, the single diet fed feeding induced molting method by using alfalfa revealed to show more satisfactory trend than the corn or wheat bran single diet fed feeding induced molting methods even if no statistically significant difference was found in terms of egg productivity.

A Simulation-Based Investigation of an Advanced Traveler Information System with V2V in Urban Network (시뮬레이션기법을 통한 차량 간 통신을 이용한 첨단교통정보시스템의 효과 분석 (도시 도로망을 중심으로))

  • Kim, Hoe-Kyoung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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    • v.29 no.5
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    • pp.121-138
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    • 2011
  • More affordable and available cutting-edge technologies (e.g., wireless vehicle communication) are regarded as a possible alternative to the fixed infrastructure-based traffic information system requiring the expensive infrastructure investments and mostly implemented in the uninterrupted freeway network with limited spatial system expansion. This paper develops an advanced decentralized traveler information System (ATIS) using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system whose performance (drivers' travel time savings) are enhanced by three complementary functions (autonomous automatic incident detection algorithm, reliable sample size function, and driver behavior model) and evaluates it in the typical $6{\times}6$ urban grid network with non-recurrent traffic state (traffic incident) with the varying key parameters (traffic flow, communication radio range, and penetration ratio), employing the off-the-shelf microscopic simulation model (VISSIM) under the ideal vehicle communication environment. Simulation outputs indicate that as the three key parameters are increased more participating vehicles are involved for traffic data propagation in the less communication groups at the faster data dissemination speed. Also, participating vehicles saved their travel time by dynamically updating the up-to-date traffic states and searching for the new route. Focusing on the travel time difference of (instant) re-routing vehicles, lower traffic flow cases saved more time than higher traffic flow ones. This is because a relatively small number of vehicles in 300vph case re-route during the most system-efficient time period (the early time of the traffic incident) but more vehicles in 514vph case re-route during less system-efficient time period, even after the incident is resolved. Also, normally re-routings on the network-entering links saved more travel time than any other places inside the network except the case where the direct effect of traffic incident triggers vehicle re-routings during the effective incident time period and the location and direction of the incident link determines the spatial distribution of re-routing vehicles.

The Evaluation of Radiation Therapy and Combined-modality Therapy for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer in Elderly (고령의 비소세포성폐암 환자의 방사선 및 병용치료에 대한 효과 평가)

  • Yoon, Won-Sup;Yang, Dae-Sik;Kim, Chul-Yong
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.101-108
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    • 2007
  • [ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To compare radiation therapy alone to combined modality therapy about survival rate and tolerance of elderly patients ($70=or{\geq}$) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between 1998 and 2002, 57 patients given radiation therapy due to NSCLC (Stage III) were analysed retrospectively. Radiation therapy alone (RT), concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), and sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) was done to 33, 16 and 8 patients, respectively. Patients' median age was 74 (range $70{\sim}85$). Male and female are 51 patients and 6 patients, respectively. 23 patients were stage IIIa and 34 were stage IIIb. Patients' characteristic distribution of RT and CRT was not significantly different except mass size that RT has a bigger than CRT. The fraction size of radiation therapy was 1.8 Gy in CRT and $1.8{\sim}3\;Gy$ in other groups. Total radiation dose was $51{\sim}63\;Gy$ according to the fraction size. If the prescribed total radiation dose was successfully irradiated, we stated that it was completion of radiation therapy. $\underline{Results}$: 52 patients were dead. Median period of radiation therapy was as follow: RT, 35 days, CRT, 60.5 days and SCRT, 35 days. Overall median survival time (MST) was 10.1 months. The 1 yr- and 2 yr-overall survival rate was 39.8% and 17.6%, respectively. MST of RT, CRT and SCRT was 8.9, 8.2 and 11.7 months, respectively. The 1 yr survival rate of RT, CRT and SCRT was 38.4%, 37.5% and 50% (not significant). Patients given incomplete radiation therapy were 12 (RT, 5 CRT, 6 SCRT, 1). N stage (p=0.081) and the difference of treatment methods (p=0.079) were the factors affecting incompletion of radiation therapy, but it was not significant. In case of combined-agents chemotherapy, 4 of 8 ceased radiation therapy. T stage ($T{\geq}3$), mass size (${\geq}5\;cm$), Karnofsky performance scale (${\leq}70$) and completion of radiation therapy were the prognostic factors in uni- and multi-variate analysis. $\underline{Conclusion}$: In elderly patients with NSCLC, radiation therapy alone was a treatment method with similar survival period compared with other methods. Generally, patients given radiation therapy alone was tolerable to a treatment. Before planning concurrent chemoirradiation in elderly patients with NSCLC, physicians pay attention to a selection of patients and chemotherapy agents considering general condition and toxicity.