• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.60-73
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study aims at decreasing spatial dose rate through work improvement whilst spatial dose rate is the cause of increasing personal exposure dose which occurs in the process of handling radioisotope. Methods: From February 2013 until July 2013, divided into "before" and "after" the improvement, spatial dose rate in laboratory of nuclear medicine was measured in gamma image room, PET/CT-1 image room, and PET/CT-2 image room as its locations. The measurement time was 08:00, 12:00 and 17:00, and SPSS 21.0 USA was opted for its statistical analysis. Result: The spatial dose rate at distribution worktable, injection table, the entrance to the distribution room, and radioisotope storage box, which had showed high spatial dose rate, decreased by more than 43.7% a monthly average. The distribution worktable, that had showed the highest spatial dose rate in PET/CT-1 image room, dropped the rate to 42.3% as of July. The injection table and distribution worktable in the PET/CT-2 image room also showed the decline of spatial dose rate to 89% and 64.4%, respectively. Conclusion: By improving distribution process and introducing proper radiation shielding material, we were able to drop the spatial dose rate substantially at distribution worktable, injection table, and nuclide storage box. However, taking into account of steadily increasing amount of radioisotope used, strengthening radiation related regulations, and safe utilization of radioisotope, the process of system improvement needs to be maintained through continuous monitoring.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Planning for radiotherapy relies on implicit estimation of the probability of tumor control and the probability of complications in adjacent normal tissues for a given dose distribution. Methods: The aim of this pilot study was to reconstruct dose-volume histograms (DVHs) from text files generated by the Eclipse treatment planning system developed by Varian Medical Systems and to verify the integrity and accuracy of the dose statistics. Results: We further compared dose statistics for intensity-modulated radiotherapy of the head and neck between the Eclipse software and software developed in-house. The dose statistics data obtained from the Python software were consistent, with deviations from the Eclipse treatment planning system found to be within acceptable limits. Conclusions: The in-house software was able to provide indices of hotness and coldness for treatment planning and store statistical data generated by the software in Oracle databases. We believe the findings of this pilot study may lead to more accurate evaluations in planning for radiotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.3257-3265
• /
• 2015

Background: Radiotherapy is an important treatment of choice for breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery, and we compare the feasibility of using dual arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT2), single arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT1) and Multi-beam Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (M-IMRT) on patients after breast-conserving surgery. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with breast cancer (half right-sided and half left-sided) treated by conservative lumpectomy and requiring whole breast radiotherapy with tumor bed boost were planned with three different radiotherapy techniques: 1) VMAT1; 2) VMAT2; 3) M-IMRT. The distributions for the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were compared. Dosimetries for all the techniques were compared. Results: All three techniques satisfied the dose constraint well. VMAT2 showed no obvious difference in the homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) of the PTV with respect to M-IMRT and VMAT1. VMAT2 clearly improved the treatment efficiency and can also decrease the mean dose and V5Gy of the contralateral lung. The mean dose and maximum dose of the spinal cord and contralateral breast were lower for VMAT2 than the other two techniques. The very low dose distribution (V1Gy) of the contralateral breast also showed great reduction in VMAT2 compared with the other two techniques. For the ipsilateral lung of right-sided breast cancer, the mean dose was decreased significantly in VMAT2 compared with VMAT1 and M-IMRT. The V20Gy and V30Gy of the ipsilateral lung of the left-sided breast cancer for VMAT2 showed obvious reduction compared with the other two techniques. The heart statistics of VMAT2 also decreased considerably compared to VMAT1 and M-IMRT. Conclusions: Compared to the other two techniques, the dual arc volumetric modulated arc therapy technique reduced radiation dose exposure to the organs at risk and maintained a reasonable target dose distribution.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2010

High energy electron beams were to concentrically dose inside a tumor and more energy is a shape decreased of dose. Therefore, it is useful to radiation therapy of a tumor. Also high energy electron beams ionized into collision with a atom in structure material of tissue and it has big changes to dose distribution by multiple scattering. The study had to establish characteristic of electron beams from interaction of electron beams and materials. Experiment method was to measure dependence of electron beam central axis for depth dose curve, field flatness and symmetry and field size dependence. The results were able to evaluate data for a datum pint of electron beam. Also radiotherapy has to be considered for not only energy pencil of lines but characteristic, electron guide and isodose curves distribution.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 1997

The goal of radiation treatment planning is to deliver the dose to the patient within $5\%$ of that prescribed. We have often encountered the situation that the area which have not only several irregular contours but also tissue heterogeneities should be treated. With conventional devices such as wedges, missing tissue compensator. there are some limitations to achieve the uniform dose distribution in treatment volume. The use of CT simulator, 3-D planning system, computer-controlled milling machine enables it to deliver the dose uniformally. This report includes the whole procedure which have patient data acquisition 3D planning, computer-controlled milling, performance verification of 3D compensator, and TLD evaluation. We applied it for the treatment of head and heck cancer only. In Spite of the irregular contour and different electron density of tessue, we have achieved the uniformity of the dose distribution within ${\pm}3\%$ relatively. Although there are some problems which are not only verification of performance but uncertainties of using the new treatment device, we believe that the improvement of dosimetry will eliminate the uncertainties of that application. so the other lesions besides head and neck can will be ale to use the 3D compensator to achieve the dose uniformity

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
• /
• 2002.09a
• /
• pp.121-122
• /
• 2002

The main principle of radiation therapy is to deliver optimum dose to tumor to increase tumor cure probability while minimizing dose to critical normal structure to reduce complications. RTP system is required for proper dose plan in radiation therapy treatment. The main goal of this research is to develop dose model for photon, electron, and brachytherapy, and to display dose distribution on patient images with optimum process. The main items developed in this research includes: (l) user requirements and quality control; analysis of user requirement in RTP, networking between RTP and relevant equipment, quality control using phantom for clinical application (2) dose model in RTP; photon, electron, brachytherapy, modifying dose model (3) image processing and 3D visualization; 2D image processing, auto contouring, image reconstruction, 3D visualization (4) object modeling and graphic user interface; development of total software structure, step-by-step planning procedure, window design and user-interface. Our final product show strong capability for routine and advance RTP planning.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 2019

Tritium is an important nuclide that must be monitored for radiation safety management. In this study, HTO was orally administered to rats at the level of 37 kBq ($1{\mu}Ci$) or 370 kBq ($10{\mu}Ci$) to examine tissue distribution and excretion levels. After sacrifice, wet and dry tissue samples were weighed and analyzed for tissue free-water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT). The mean tissue concentrations of TFWT (OBT) were 30.9 (17.8) and 4.4 (8.1) Bq/g on days 7 and 13 at the 37 kBq level and 30.8 (64.6) Bq/g on day 17 at the 370 kBq level. To assess the cytogenetic damage due to tritium exposure, a cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) assay was performed in blood samples from rats exposed to HTO for 14 and 21 days after oral administration. There was no significant difference in the MN frequencies between the control and exposed rats.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who undergo dental procedures during radiotherapy (RT) face an increased risk of developing osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Accordingly, new tools must be developed to extract critical information regarding the dose delivered to the teeth and mandible. This article proposes a novel approach for visualizing 3-dimensional planned dose distributions on panoramic reconstruction computed tomography (pCT) images. Materials and Methods: Four patients with HNC who underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy were included. One patient experienced ORN and required the extraction of teeth after RT. In the study approach, the dental arch curve (DAC) was defined using an open-source platform. Subsequently, pCT images and dose distributions were generated based on the new coordinate system. All teeth and mandibles were delineated on both the original CT and pCT images. To evaluate the consistency of dose metrics, the Mann-Whitney U test and Student t-test were employed. Results: A total of 61 teeth and 4 mandibles were evaluated. The correlation coefficient between the 2 methods was 0.999, and no statistically significant difference was observed (P>0.05). This method facilitated a straightforward and intuitive understanding of the delivered dose. In 1 patient, ORN corresponded to the region of the root and the gum receiving a high dosage (approximately 70 Gy). Conclusion: The proposed method particularly benefits dentists involved in the management of patients with HNC. It enables the visualization of a 3-dimensional dose distribution in the teeth and mandible on pCT, enhancing the understanding of the dose delivered during RT.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.12-16
• /
• 1990

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2002

The design, construction and performance test of a convenient multi-purpose irradiator is described. A multi-purpose irradiator using Cesium-137 has been developed for studies of low dose radiation effects in biology and for calibration of Thermo Luminescent dosimeter(TLD). During the operation, three rods of radioactive material which are 10cm in length revolve 180 degrees and irradiate biological samples, or TLD, and return to their shielded position, after the programmed time. A programmable Logic Controller(PLC) controls the sequence of operation, interlock, motor rotation and safety system. The rotation speed of biological samples can vary up to 20 RPM. A real time monitoring system was also incorporated to check and control the operation status of the irradiator. The capacity of the irradiation chamber was 4.5 liters. The isodose distribution at arbitrary vertical planes was measured by using film dosimetry. The dose-rate was 0.13 cGy/min in air and 0.11 cGy/min in water equivalent material in the case of Cesium-137. Range of activity was 2 Ci. The homogeneity of dose distribution in the chamber was ${\pm}$7%. The actual radiation level on the surface was within permissible levels. The irradiator had a maximum 0.35 mR/min radiation leakage on its surface.