• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.164-167
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• 1997

The treatment setup of patients during irradiation is an important aspect in relation to the success of radiotherapy. Imaging with the treatment beam is a widely used method or verification of the radiation field position relative to the target area, prior to or during irradiation. In this paper, Real time digital radiography system was implemented or verification of local error between simulation plan and radiation therapy machine. Portal image can be acquired by CCD camera, image board and pentium PC after therapy Radiation was converted into light by a metal/fluorescent Screen. The resulting image quality is comparable to film, so the imaging system represents a promising alternative to film as a method of verifying patient positioning in radiotherapy. Edge detection and field size measurement were also implemented and detected automatically for verification of treatment position. Field edge was added to the original image or checking the anatomical treatment verification by therapy technicians. By means of therapy efficiency improvement and decrease of Radiation side effects with these techniques, Exact Radiation treatments are expected.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is a treatment modality that uses high-energy rays or radioactive agents to generate ionizing radiation against rapidly dividing cells. The main objective of using radiation in cancer therapy is to impair or halt the division of the tumor cells. Over the past few decades, advancements in technology, the introduction of newer methods of RT, and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cancers have enabled physicians to deliver doses of radiation that match the exact dimensions of the tumor for greater efficacy, with minimal exposure of the surrounding tissues. However, RT has numerous complications, the most common being radiation proctitis (RP). It is characterized by damage to the rectal epithelium by secondary ionizing radiation. Based on the onset of signs and symptoms, post-radiotherapy RP can be classified as acute or chronic, each with varying levels of severity and complication rates. The treatment options available for RP are limited, with most of the data on treatment available from case reports or small studies. Here, we describe the types of RT used in modern-day medicine and radiation-mediated tissue injury. We have primarily focused on the classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment strategies, complications, and prognosis of RP.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

With the progress of image-guided localization, body immobilization system, and computerized delivery of intensity-modulated radiation delivery, it became possible to perform spine radiosurgery. The next question is how to translate the high technology treatment to the clinical application. Clinical trials have been performed to demonstrate the feasibility of spine radiosurgery and efficacy of the treatment in the setting of spine metastasis, leading to the randomized trials by a cooperative group. Radiosurgery has also demonstrated its efficacy to decompress the spinal cord compression in selected group of patients. The experience indicates that spine radiosurgery has a potential to change the clinical practice in the management of spine metastasis and spinal cord compression.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish general guidelines for the treatment of patients with early glottic cancer(T1-2N0M0), by assessing the role of primary radiation therapy and by analyzing the tumor-related and treatment-related factors that influence treatment results. We also studied the results of hypofractionated radiation therapy for early glottic cancer. Material and Methods: This retrospective study comprised 48 patients who suffered from early glottic cancer and were treated by primary radiotherapy at Inha University Hospital, between May 1997 and October 2004. T-stage distribution showed 38 patients as T1 and 10 patients as stage T2. Thirty-eight patients underwent hypofractionated radiotherapy using a 6 MY photon beam, a total tumor dose of 63Gy, in 5 weekly fractions of 2.25Gy, with an overall radiation treatment time of 38 days. Ten patients in the T2 stage tolerated a total dose of 63-72 Gy(median 68.4Gy) in 5 weekly fractions of 1.8-2.0Gy, with an overall radiation treatment time of 40-87 days(median 51 days). All patients were followed up for at least 3 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors affecting the treatment results. Result: The 5-year survival rate was 92% for all patients, 94% for T1 patients and 91% for T2 patients. The local control rate was 93.5% for all patients, 95% for T1 and 92.2% for T2 patients. Three patients suffered a relapse following radiotherapy, and underwent subsequent salvage surgery. We included T-stage, tumor location, total radiation dose, field size and overall radiation treatment time as potential prognostic factors. Only T-stage was found to be statistically significant in the univariate analysis, but in the multivariate analysis, it was not found to be significant. Conclusion: High curative and voice preservation rates were obtained with hypofractionated radiotherapy. Further study with a larger number of patients is needed to determine the prognostic factors affecting treatment results.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.141-145
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• 2017

This paper uses a glass dosimeter to evaluate the lens-absorbed dose of scattered radiation generated in tomotherapy intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The head and neck portion of the rando phantom was subjected to a CT scan. The tomotherapy plan was designed to ensure delivery of the prescribed total 70 Gy day 2.2 Gy. With the lens portion of the glass dosimeter, a 5mm bolus was subjected to the scattered radiation treatment, and the dose was measured in each of the three megavoltage CT (MVCT) modes. The result is multiplied by 30 times and was determined once as the mean value. The measurement at the MVCT Coarse mode is RT mode 10.797 mGy, that for the Normal mode is 13.360 mGy, for the Fine mode is a maximum of 22.872 mGy, and for the treatment mode is 895.830 mGy. A small amount of scattered radiation in the MVCT is measured in the lens scattered radiation, but scattered radiation during treatment was measured to be near 1 Gy on the lens. Compared to a one-time radiation treatment of 2.2 Gy, the survey showed something unexpected in that it was half the value of that research to the patient. Therefore, will be aware of how much of an influence there will be on sensitive organs, such as the lens by scattered radiation generated during intensity modulated radiation therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome and prognostic factor of postoperative radiotherapy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Materials and Methods: Forty three patients with extremity STS were treated with conservative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy from January 1981 to December 2010 at Korea University Medical Center. Median total 60 Gy (range, 50 to 74.4 Gy) of radiation was delivered and 7 patients were treated with chemotherapy. Results: The median follow-up period was 70 months (range, 5 to 302 months). Twelve patients (27.9%) sustained relapse of their disease. Local recurrence occurred in 3 patients (7.0%) and distant metastases developed in 10 patients (23.3%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 69.2% and disease free survival was 67.9%. The 5-year local relapse-free survival was 90.7% and distant relapse-free survival was 73.3%. On univariate analysis, no significant prognostic factors were associated with development of local recurrence. Histologic grade (p = 0.005) and stage (p = 0.02) influenced the development of distant metastases. Histologic grade was unique significant prognostic factor for the OS on univariate and multivariate analysis. Severe acute treatment-related complications, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3 or 4, developed in 6 patients (14.0%) and severe late complications in 2 patients (4.7%). Conclusion: Conservative surgery with postoperative radiotherapy achieved a satisfactory rate of local control with acceptable complication rate in extremity STS. Most failures were distant metastases that correlate with tumor grade and stage. The majority of local recurrences developed within the field. Selective dose escalation of radiotherapy or development of effective systemic treatment might be considered.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.104-111
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• 2019

Purpose: Online magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART), an emerging technique, is used to address the change in anatomical structures, such as treatment target region, during the treatment period. However, the electron density map used for dose calculation differs from that for daily treatment, owing to the variation in organ location and, notably, air pockets. In this study, we evaluate the dosimetric effect of electron density override on air pockets during online ART for pancreatic cancer cases. Methods: Five pancreatic cancer patients, who were treated with MRgART at the Seoul National University Hospital, were enrolled in the study. Intensity modulated radiation therapy plans were generated for each patient with 60Co beams on a ViewrayTM system, with a 45 Gy prescription dose for stereotactic body radiation therapy. During the treatment, the electron density map was modified based on the daily MR image. We recalculated the dose distribution on the plan, and the dosimetric parameters were obtained from the dose volume histograms of the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk. Results: The average dose difference in the PTV was 0.86Gy, and the observed difference at the maximum dose was up to 2.07 Gy. The variation in air pockets during treatment resulted in an under- or overdose in the PTV. Conclusions: We recommend the re-contouring of the air pockets to deliver an accurate radiation dose to the target in MRgART, even though it is a time-consuming method.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2020

Purpose: Definitive radiotherapy remains a primary treatment option for early stage glottic cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has emerged as the standard treatment technique for advanced head and neck cancers, whereas three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) has remained standard for early glottic cancers. We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify predictors of IMRT use and effect on outcome in these patients. Materials and Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2004-2015 for squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx staged Tis-T2N0 treated with radiation alone. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IMRT. Cox regression was used to identify factors predictive of overall survival. Propensity matching was conducted to account for indication bias. Results: We identified 15,627 patients, of which 11% received IMRT. IMRT use rose from 2% in 2004 to 16% in 2015. Predictors of IMRT include: increased comorbidity, T2 stage, urban location, chemotherapy, treatment at an academic center, and later treatment year. Predictors of improved survival were female gender, higher income, lower stage, no chemotherapy, academic facility, and more remote year. There was no difference in survival between 3D-CRT and IMRT across all stages. Conclusions: The rate of IMRT use for early stage glottic laryngeal cancer has increased over time. There was no difference in outcome in patients receiving IMRT versus 3D-CRT across the cohort.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.54-62
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• 2020

Dose calculation algorithms play an important role in radiation therapy and are even the basis for optimizing treatment plans, an important feature in the development of complex treatment technologies such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. We reviewed the past and current status of dose calculation algorithms used in the treatment planning system for radiation therapy. The radiation-calculating dose calculation algorithm can be broadly classified into three main groups based on the mechanisms used: (1) factor-based, (2) model-based, and (3) principle-based. Factor-based algorithms are a type of empirical dose calculation that interpolates or extrapolates the dose in some basic measurements. Model-based algorithms, represented by the pencil beam convolution, analytical anisotropic, and collapse cone convolution algorithms, use a simplified physical process by using a convolution equation that convolutes the primary photon energy fluence with a kernel. Model-based algorithms allowing side scattering when beams are transmitted to the heterogeneous media provide more precise dose calculation results than correction-based algorithms. Principle-based algorithms, represented by Monte Carlo dose calculations, simulate all real physical processes involving beam particles during transportation; therefore, dose calculations are accurate but time consuming. For approximately 70 years, through the development of dose calculation algorithms and computing technology, the accuracy of dose calculation seems close to our clinical needs. Next-generation dose calculation algorithms are expected to include biologically equivalent doses or biologically effective doses, and doctors expect to be able to use them to improve the quality of treatment in the near future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.218-225
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• 2017

Effects on skin caused by the dose from linear accelerator (LINAC) opposing portal irradiation and TomoDirect 3-D modeling treatment according to the radiation devices and treatment methods were measured, and a comparative analysis was performed. Two groups of 10 patients each were created and measurements were carried out using an optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter. These patients were already receiving radiation treatment in the hospital. Using the SPSS statistical program, the minimum and maximum average standard deviations of the measured skin dose data were obtained. Two types of treatment method were selected as independent variables; the measured points and total average were the dependent variables. An independent sample T-test was used, and it was checked whether there was a significance probability between the two groups. The average of the measured results for the LINAC opposing portal radiation was 117.7 cGy and PDD 65.39% for the inner breast, 144.7 cGy and PDD 80.39% for the outer breast, 143.2 cGy and PDD 79.56% for the upper breast, 151.4 cGy and PDD 84.11% for the lower breast, 149.6 cGy and PDD 83.11% for the axilla, and 141.32 cGy and PDD 78.51% for the total average. In contrast, for TomoDirect 3-D conformal radiotherapy, the corresponding measurement values were 137.6 cGy and PDD 76.44%, 152.3 cGy and PDD 84.61%, 148.6 cGy and PDD 82.56%, 159.7 cGy and PDD 88.72%, and 148.6 cGy PDD 82.56%, respectively, and the total average was 149.36 cGy and PDD 82.98%. To determine if the difference between the total averages was statistically significant, the independent sample T-test of the SPSS statistical program was used, which indicated that the P-value was P=0.024, which was 0.05 lower than the significance level. Thus, it can be understood that the null hypothesis can be dismissed, and that there was a difference in the averages. In conclusion, even though the treatment dose was similar, there could be a difference in the dose entering the body surface from the radiation treatment plan; however, depending on the properties of the treatment devices, there is a difference in the dose affecting the body surface. Thus, the absorbed dose entering the body surface can be high. During breast cancer radiotherapy, radiation dermatitis occurs in almost all patients. Most patients have a difficult time while undergoing treatment, and therefore, when choosing a radiotherapy treatment method, minimizing radiation dermatitis is an important consideration.