• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2003

Annual radiation dose limit to radiation worker was substantially lowered in Korea by the adoption of 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP 60) in its legislation. On the other hand, radiation management environment in nuclear power plants is getting more worse because of the accumulation of radiation sources inside the system and the frequent need for maintenance according as the operation years of nuclear power plants increase. Therefore, Korea Hydro & Nuclear power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) has established a long-term 10 years plan from 2001 to 2010 for the reduction of radiation dose to workers. The plan is aimed for the reduction of annual dose per unit averaged over 5 years from 0.9 man-Sv in 2001 to 0.75 man-Sv in 2010 by radiation source reduction, equipment/tool improvement or new equipment development for easy maintenance, and the improvement of administration and system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.933-943
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• 2021

Objective : Percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation is a needle based procedure that requires fluoroscopic image guidance. Consequently, radiation exposure is inevitable for patients, surgeons, and operation room staff. We hypothesize that reducing the production of radiation emission will result in reduced radiation exposure for everyone in the operation room. Research was performed to evaluate reduction of radiation exposure by modifying imaging manner and mode of radiation source. Methods : A total of 170 patients (680 screws) who underwent fusion surgery with PPS fixation from September 2019 to March 2020 were analyzed in this study. Personal dosimeters (Polimaster Ltd.) were worn at the collar outside a lead apron to measure radiation exposure. Patients were assigned to four groups based on imaging manner of fluoroscopy and radiation modification (pulse mode with reduced dose) : continuous use without radiation modification (group 1, n=34), intermittent use without radiation modification (group 2, n=54), continuous use with radiation modification (group 3, n=26), and intermittent use with radiation modification (group 4, n=56). Post hoc Tukey Honest significant difference test was used for individual comparisons of radiation exposure/screw and fluoroscopic time/screw. Results : The average radiation exposure/screw was 71.45±45.75 µSv/screw for group 1, 18.77±11.51 µSv/screw for group 2, 19.58±7.00 µSv/screw for group 3, and 4.26±2.89 µSv/screw for group 4. By changing imaging manner from continuous multiple shot to intermittent single shot, 73.7% radiation reduction was achieved in the no radiation modification groups (groups 1, 2), and 78.2% radiation reduction was achieved in the radiation modification groups (groups 3, 4). Radiation source modification from continuous mode with standard dose to pulse mode with reduced dose resulted in 72.6% radiation reduction in continuous imaging groups (groups 1, 3) and 77.3% radiation reduction in intermittent imaging groups (groups 2, 4). The average radiation exposure/screw was reduced 94.1% by changing imaging manner and modifying radiation source from continuous imaging with standard fluoroscopy setting (group 1) to intermittent imaging with modified fluoroscopy setting (group 4). A total of 680 screws were reviewed postoperatively, and 99.3% (675) were evaluated as pedicle breach grade 0 (<2 mm). Conclusion : The average radiation exposure/screw for a spinal surgeon can be reduced 94.1% by changing imaging manner and modifying radiation source from real-time imaging with standard dose to intermittent imaging with modified dose. These modifications can be instantly applied to any procedure using fluoroscopic guidance and may reduce the overall radiation exposure of spine surgeons.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.84-94
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• 2014

Purpose: To quantify the cardiac dose reduction during breathing adapted radiotherapy using Real-time Position Management (RPM) system in the treatment of left-sided breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with left-sided breast cancer underwent CT scans during breathing maneuvers including free breathing (FB), deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH), and end inspiration breath-hold (EIBH). The RPM system was used to monitor respiratory motion, and the in-house self respiration monitoring (SRM) system was used for visual feedback. For each scan, treatment plans were generated and dosimetric parameters from DIBH and EIBH plans were compared to those of FB plans. Results: All patients completed CT scans with different breathing maneuvers. When compared with FB plans, DIBH plans demonstrated significant reductions in irradiated heart volume and the heart $V_{25}$, with the relative reduction of 71% and 70%, respectively (p < 0.001). EIBH plans also resulted in significantly smaller irradiated heart volume and lower heart $V_{25}$ than FB plans, with the relative reduction of 39% and 37%, respectively (p = 0.002). Despite of significant expansion of lung volume using inspiration breath-hold, there were no significant differences in left lung $V_{25}$ among the three plans. Conclusion: In comparison with FB, both DIBH and EIBH plans demonstrated a significant reduction of radiation dose to the heart. In the training course, SRM system was useful and effective in terms of positional reproducibility and patient compliance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.393-400
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• 2020

Unlike conventional radiographic examinations, angiointerventional procedures have a high risk of radiation exposure to patients or operators due to prolonged radiation exposure time. This study was undertaken to examine effects of reducing the radiation risk by applying dose reduction fiber (DRF) shielding cloth during angiography. To investigate the properties of DRF shielding cloth, we measured the scattered radiation below and above a human phantom using a glass dosimeter, at site distances 10 cm away from the irradiated field. The results obtained reveal a 15 ~ 31% reduction of scattered radiation in the irradiation field, and 53 ~ 70% reduced radiation measured after phantom transmission. Taken together, our data indicate that application of DRF shielding cloth for radiation reduction at non-procedural sites during interventional procedure results in reduction of scattered doses to patients and operators, without affecting the medical examinations. We propose the use of DRF shielding during angiointerventional procedures, in order to reduce the risk of radiation exposure of patients and operators.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2015

We report the preparation of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO) by the sulfonation of graphene oxide followed by radiation-induced chemical reduction. Graphene oxide prepared by the well-known modified Hummer's method was sulfonated with the aryl diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. Sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) dispersed in ethanol was subsequently reduced by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation at various absorbed doses to produce SRGO. The results of optical, chemical, and thermal analyses revealed that SRGO was successfully prepared by ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation-induced chemical reduction of the SGO suspension. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of SRGO was increased up to 2.94 S/cm with an increase of the absorbed dose.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the change in the lumpectomy cavity volumes before and after whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) and to identify factors associated with the change of volume. Materials and Methods: From September 2009 to April 2010, the computed tomography (CT) simulation data from 70 patients obtained before and after WBRT was evaluated. The lumpectomy cavity volumes were contoured based on surgical clips, seroma, and postoperative changes. Significant differences in the data from pre-WBRT CT and post-WBRT CT were assessed. Multiple variables were examined for correlation with volume reduction in the lumpectomy cavity. Results: The mean and median volume reduction in the lumpectomy cavity after WBRT were 17.6 $cm^3$ and 16.1 $cm^3$, respectively with the statistical significance (p < 0.001). The volume reduction in the lumpectomy cavity was inversely correlated with time from surgery to radiation therapy (R = 0.390). The presence of seroma was significantly associated with a volumetric change in the lumpectomy cavity after WBRT (p = 0.011). Conclusion: The volume of lumpectomy cavity reduced significantly after WBRT. As the time from surgery to the start ot WBRT increased, the volume reduction in the lumpectomy cavity during WBRT decreased. A strong correlation was observed between the presence of seroma and the reduced volume. To ensure appropriate coverage and to limit normal tissue exposure during boost irradiation in patients who has seroma at the time of starting WBRT, repeating CT simulation at boost planning is suggested.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2006

With the advent of inexpensive computing power over the past two decades, applications of Monte Carlo radiation transport techniques have proliferated dramatically. At Los Alamos, the Monte Carlo codes MCNP5 and MCNPX are used routinely on personal computer platforms for radiation shielding analysis and dosimetry calculations. These codes feature a rich palette of variance reduction (VR) techniques. The motivation of VR is to exchange user efficiency for computational efficiency. It has been said that a few hours of user time often reduces computational time by several orders of magnitude. Unfortunately, user time can stretch into the many hours as most VR techniques require significant user experience and intervention for proper optimization. It is the purpose of this paper to outline VR strategies, tested in practice, optimized for several common radiation shielding tasks, with the hope of reducing user setup time for similar problems. A strategy is defined in this context to mean a collection of MCNP radiation transport physics options and VR techniques that work synergistically to optimize a particular shielding task. Examples are offered in the areas of source definition, skyshine, streaming, and transmission.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.563-571
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to evaluation of the radiation dose reduction using various automatic exposure control (AEC) systems in different manufactures multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). We used three different manufacturers for the study: General Electric Healthcare, Philips Medical systems and Siemens Medical Solutions. The general scanning protocol was created for the each examination with the same scanning parameters as many as possible. In the various AEC systems, the evaluation of reduced-dose was evaluated by comparing to fixed mAs with using body phantom. Finally, when we applied to AEC for three manufacturers, the radiation dose reduction decreased each 35.3% in the GE, 58.2% in the Philips, and 48.6% in the Siemens. This applies to variety of the AEC systems which will be very useful to reduce the dose and to maintain the high quality.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.385-390
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• 2009

The Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG (Voiding Cystourethrography) are commonly used in the paediatric age group. The procedures had a particularly long fluroscopic screening time, despite a successful outcome for paediatric patients. Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG almost invariably requires fluoroscopic guidance which does confer a radiation dose. This article contains suggestions on how the radiation dose to paediatric patients from Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG can be made "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA). The aim of our study was eliminated in spot image applying the FluoroGrab, which has function of capturing an image of interest area from the picturing while fluoroscopic procedures. FluoroGrab has clinical value equivalent to the spot image, and is applied to the most recent fluoroscopic procedures. The radiologist and the radiographers should consider new option for decreasing the radiation exposure delivered to paediatric patients by making equipment modifications to the fluoroscopy to optimize radiation exposure reduction techniques. Thus, we propose the FluoroGrab instead of spot exposure for the reduction of patient exposure dose in paediatric, and try to confirm the effect of the mitigating amount of radiation exposure to paediatric patients when pneumatic reduction and VCUG. Fluorograb is the safe and useful method that shows the equivalent level of accuracy to spot exposure, and to minimize the radiation load to paediatric patients are to be the substitute for the spot exposure for Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1167-1172
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• 2009

The Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG (Voiding Cystourethrography) are commonly used in the paediatric age group. The procedures had a particularly long fluroscopic screening time, despite a successful outcome for paediatric patients. Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG almost invariably requires fluoroscopic guidance which does confer a radiation dose. This article contains suggestions on how the radiation dose to paediatric patients from Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG can be made "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA). The aim of our study was eliminated in spot image applying the FluoroGrab, which has function of capturing an image of interest area from the picturing while fluoroscopic procedures. FluoroGrab has clinical value equivalent to the spot image, and is applied to the most recent fluoroscopic procedures. The radiologist and the radiographers should consider new option for decreasing the radiation exposure delivered to paediatric patients by making equipment modifications to the fluoroscopy to optimize radiation exposure reduction techniques. Thus, we propose the FluoroGrab instead of spot exposure for the reduction of patient exposure dose in paediatric, and try to confirm the effect of the mitigating amount of radiation exposure to paediatric patients when pneumatic reduction and VCUG. Fluorograb is the safe and useful method that shows the equivalent level of accuracy to spot exposure, and to minimize the radiation load to paediatric patients are to be the substitute for the spot exposure for Pneumatic Reduction and VCUG.