• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.343-348
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is a comparison of forward planning(FP) and inverse planning(IP) of a radiosurgery procedure. 10 patients of acoustic schwannoma MR image were used for treatment plan. FP-1,2 and IP were established under the same condition. FP and IP were compared by number of shot, conformity index(CI), paddic conformity index(PCI), gradiant index(GI) and treatment time. On average the treatment plan produced by IP tool provided an improved or similar CI, PCI, GI and reduced treatment time as compared to the FP (CI;FP-1:0.85, FP-2:0.86, IP:0.94, PCI;FP-1:0.79, FP-2:0.81, IP:0.78, GI;FP-1:2.94, FP-2:2.94, IP:3.01). The inverse planning system provides a clinically useful plan while reducing the planning time and treatment time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.535-545
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• 2012

Recently, drinking water quality has significantly improved with the progress of water treatment technologies, however, customer's trust on tap water is still relatively low. Low trust on water quality is mainly due to vague anxiety. Therefore, to improve customer's trust on drinking water quality new strategy such as water safety plan(WSP) which recommended by WHO and IWA should be introduced. WSP can be defined as an approach which uses comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer to ensure the safety of a drinking water supply. In this study, cases on WSP introduction in other countries as well as strategy for the introduction of WSP in Korea were investigated. In addition, recommendations on the improvement of the current water contamination response manual was suggested based on the analysis of the existing manual at a full scale water treatment plant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.665-672
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• 2008

It is necessary to implement the management plan for the production of safe and high quality drinking water from lake Paldang. To set up the plan, the water quality items such as BOD, T-P, SS and coliform were monitored for ten years, 1997~2006, and the influence of raw water quality on the drinking water treatment process and the treated water quality was also evaluated from 2004 to 2006. In conclusion, water quality items such as turbidity(SS), T-P(eutrophication), pathogens(fecal coliforms, enterovirus, reovirus, giardia, cryptosporidium), DOC(precursor of disinfection by-products), and micro-pollutants(phthalates, VOCs, heavy metals) are should be managed to get safe and high quality drinking water from lake Paldang.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.32
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• pp.73-83
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to confirm the matching of the electron density between tissue and gas due to variation of abdominal gas volume in MRgART (Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy) for pancreatic cancer patients, and to confirm the effect on the dose change and treatment time. Materials and Methods: We compared the PTV and OAR doses of the initial plan and the AGC(Abdominal gas correction) plans to one pancreatic cancer patient who treated with MRgART using the ViewRay MRIdian System (Viewray, USA) at this clinic. In the 4fx AGC plans, Beam ON(%) according to the patient's motion error was checked to confirm the effect of abdominal gas volume on treatment time. Results: Comparing the Initial plan with the average value of AGC plan, the dose difference was -7 to 0.1% in OAR and decreased by 0.16% on average, and in PTV, the dose decreased by 4.5% to 5.5% and decreased by 5.1% on average. In Adaptive treatment, as the abdominal gas volume increased, the Beam ON(%) decreased. Conclusion: Abdominal gas volume variation causes dose change due to inaccurate electron density matching between tissue and gas. In addition, if the abdominal gas volume increases, the Beam ON(%) decreases, and the treatment time may increase due to the motion error of the patient. Therefore, in MRgART, it is necessary to check the electron density matching and minimize the variability of the abdominal gas.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Creating individualized build-up material for superficial photon beam radiation therapy at irregular surface is complex with rice or commonly used flat shape bolus. In this study, we implemented a workflow using 3D printed patient specific bolus and describe our clinical experience. To provide better fitted build-up to irregular surface, the 3D printing technique was used. The PolyLactic Acid (PLA) which processed with nontoxic plant component was used for 3D printer filament material for clinical usage. The 3D printed bolus was designed using virtual bolus structure delineated on patient CT images. Dose distributions were generated from treatment plan for bolus assigned uniform relative electron density and bolus using relative electron density from CT image and compared to evaluate the inhomogeneity effect of bolus material. Pretreatment QA is performed to verify the relative electron density applied to bolus structure by gamma analysis. As an in-vivo dosimetry, Optically Stimulated Luminescent Dosimeters (OSLD) are used to measure the skin dose. The plan comparison result shows that discrepancies between the virtual bolus plan and printed bolus plan are negligible. (0.3% maximum dose difference and 0.2% mean dose difference). The dose distribution is evaluated with gamma method (2%, 2 mm) at the center of GTV and the passing rate was 99.6%. The OSLD measurement shows 0.3% to 2.1% higher than expected dose at patient treatment lesion. In this study, we treated Mycosis fungoides patient with patient specific bolus using 3D printing technique. The accuracy of treatment plan was verified by pretreatment QA and in-vivo dosimetry. The QA results and 4 month follow up result shows the radiation treatment using 3D printing bolus is feasible to treat irregular patient skin.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.732-741
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• 2022

Objective: To determine the impact of dedicated subspecialized radiologists in multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions on the management of lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract malignancies. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 244 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 61.7 ± 11.9 years) referred to MDT discussions 249 times (i.e., 249 cases, as five patients were discussed twice for different issues) for lower GI tract malignancy including colorectal cancer, small bowel cancer, GI stromal tumor, and GI neuroendocrine tumor between April 2018 and June 2021 in a prospective database. Before the MDT discussions, dedicated GI radiologists reviewed all imaging studies again besides routine clinical reading. The referring clinician's initial diagnosis, initial treatment plan, change in radiologic interpretation compared with the initial radiology report, and the MDT's consensus recommendations for treatment were collected and compared. Factors associated with changes in treatment plans and the implementation of MDT decisions were analyzed. Results: Of the 249 cases, radiologic interpretation was changed in 73 cases (29.3%) after a review by dedicated GI radiologists, with 78.1% (57/73) resulting in changes in the treatment plan. The treatment plan was changed in 92 cases (36.9%), and the rate of change in the treatment plan was significantly higher in cases with changes in radiologic interpretation than in those without (78.1% [57/73] vs. 19.9% [35/176], p < 0.001). Follow-up records of patients showed that 91.2% (227/249) of MDT recommendations for treatment were implemented. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the nonsurgical approach (vs. surgical approach) decided through MDT discussion was a significant factor for patients being managed differently than the MDT recommendations (odds ratio, 4.48; p = 0.017). Conclusion: MDT discussion involving additional review of radiology examinations by dedicated GI radiologists resulted in a change in the treatment plan in 36.9% of cases. Changes in treatment plans were significantly associated with changes in radiologic interpretation.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2016

Purpose : In order to minimize the dose of femoral head as an appropriate treatment plan for rectal cancer radiation therapy, we compare and evaluate the usefulness of 3-field 3D conformal radiation therapy(below 3fCRT), which is a universal treatment method, and 5-field 3D conformal radiation therapy(below 5fCRT), and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT). Materials and Methods : The 10 cases of rectal cancer that treated with 21EX were enrolled. Those cases were planned by Eclipse(Ver. 10.0.42, Varian, USA), PRO3(Progressive Resolution Optimizer 10.0.28) and AAA(Anisotropic Analytic Algorithm Ver. 10.0.28). 3fCRT and 5fCRT plan has $0^{\circ}$, $270^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$ and $0^{\circ}$, $95^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $315^{\circ}$, $265^{\circ}$ gantry angle, respectively. VMAT plan parameters consisted of 15MV coplanar $360^{\circ}$ 1 arac. Treatment prescription was employed delivering 54Gy to recum in 30 fractions. To minimize the dose difference that shows up randomly on optimizing, VMAT plans were optimized and calculated twice, and normalized to the target V100%=95%. The indexes of evaluation are D of Both femoral head and aceta fossa, total MU, H.I.(Homogeneity index) and C.I.(Conformity index) of the PTV. All VMAT plans were verified by gamma test with portal dosimetry using EPID. Results : D of Rt. femoral head was 53.08 Gy, 50.27 Gy, and 30.92 Gy, respectively, in the order of 3fCRT, 5fCRT, and VMAT treatment plan. Likewise, Lt. Femoral head showed average 53.68 Gy, 51.01 Gy and 29.23 Gy in the same order. D of Rt. aceta fossa was 54.86 Gy, 52.40 Gy, 30.37 Gy, respectively, in the order of 3fCRT, 5fCRT, and VMAT treatment plan. Likewise, Lt. Femoral head showed average 53.68 Gy, 51.01 Gy and 29.23 Gy in the same order. The maximum dose of both femoral head and aceta fossa was higher in the order of 3fCRT, 5fCRT, and VMAT treatment plan. C.I. showed the lowest VMAT treatment plan with an average of 1.64, 1.48, and 0.99 in the order of 3fCRT, 5fCRT, and VMAT treatment plan. There was no significant difference on H.I. of the PTV among three plans. Total MU showed that the VMAT treatment plan used 124.4MU and 299MU more than the 3fCRT and 5fCRT treatment plan, respectively. IMRT verification gamma test results for the VMAT plan passed over 90.0% at 2mm/2%. Conclusion : In rectal cancer treatment, the VMAT plan was shown to be advantageous in most of the evaluation indexes compared to the 3D plan, and the dose of the femoral head was greatly reduced. However, because of practical limitations there may be a case where it is difficult to select a VMAT treatment plan. 5fCRT has the advantage of reducing the dose of the femoral head as compared to the existing 3fCRT, without regard to additional problems. Therefore, not only would it extend survival time but the quality of life in general, if hospitals improved radiation therapy efficiency by selecting the treatment plan in accordance with the hospital's situation.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2014

Purpose : To derive the most appropriate factors by considering the effects of the major factors when applied to the optimization algorithm, thereby aiding the effective designing of a ideal treatment plan. Materials and Methods : The eclipse treatment planning system(Eclipse 10.0, Varian, USA) was used in this study. The PBC (Pencil Beam Convolution) algorithm was used for dose calculation, and the DVO (Dose Volume Optimizer 10.0.28) Optimization algorithm was used for intensity modulated radiation therapy. The experimental group consists of patients receiving intensity modulated radiation therapy for the head and neck cancer and dose prescription to two planned target volume was 2.2 Gy and 2.0 Gy simultaneously. Treatment plan was done with inverse dose calculation methods utilizing 6 MV beam and 7 fields. The optimal algorithm parameter of the established plan was selected based on volume dose-priority(Constrain), dose fluence smooth value and the impact of the treatment plan was analyzed according to the variation of each factors. Volume dose-priority determines the reference conditions and the optimization process was carried out under the condition using same ratio, but different absolute values. We evaluated the surrounding normal organs of treatment volume according to the changing conditions of the absolute values of the volume dose-priority. Dose fluence smooth value was applied by simply changing the reference conditions (absolute value) and by changing the related volume dose-priority. The treatment plan was evaluated using Conformal Index, Paddick's Conformal Index, Homogeneity Index and the average dose of each organs. Results : When the volume dose-priority values were directly proportioned by changing the absolute values, the CI values were found to be different. However PCI was $1.299{\pm}0.006$ and HI was $1.095{\pm}0.004$ while D5%/D95% was $1.090{\pm}1.011$. The impact on the prescribed dose were similar. The average dose of parotid gland decreased to 67.4, 50.3, 51.2, 47.1 Gy when the absolute values of the volume dose-priority increased by 40,60,70,90. When the dose smooth strength from each treatment plan was increased, PCI value increased to $1.338{\pm}0.006$. Conclusion : The optimization algorithm was more influenced by the ratio of each condition than the absolute value of volume dose-priority. If the same ratio was maintained, similar treatment plan was established even if the absolute values were different. Volume dose-priority of the treatment volume should be more than 50% of the normal organ volume dose-priority in order to achieve a successful treatment plan. Dose fluence smooth value should increase or decrease proportional to the volume dose-priority. Volume dose-priority is not enough to satisfy the conditions when the absolute value are applied solely.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2015

Purpose: To compare volumetric modulated arc therapy of RapidArc with robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of CyberKnife in the planning and delivery of SBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment by analyzing dosimetric parameters. Materials and Methods: Two radiation treatment plans were generated for 29 HCC patients, one using Eclipse for the RapidArc plan and the other using Multiplan for the CyberKnife plan. The prescription dose was 60 Gy in 3 fractions. The dosimetric parameters of planning target volume (PTV) coverage and normal tissue sparing in the RapidArc and the CyberKnife plans were analyzed. Results: The conformity index was $1.05{\pm}0.02$ for the CyberKnife plan, and $1.13{\pm}0.10$ for the RapidArc plan. The homogeneity index was $1.23{\pm}0.01$ for the CyberKnife plan, and $1.10{\pm}0.03$ for the RapidArc plan. For the normal liver, there were significant differences between the two plans in the low-dose regions of $V_1$ and $V_3$. The normalized volumes of $V_{60}$ for the normal liver in the RapidArc plan were drastically increased when the mean dose of the PTVs in RapidArc plan is equivalent to the mean dose of the PTVs in the CyberKnife plan. Conclusion: CyberKnife plans show greater dose conformity, especially in small-sized tumors, while RapidArc plans show good dosimetric distribution of low dose sparing in the normal liver and body.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.51-63
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• 2019

Purpose: Radiation therapy for breast cancer should consider the change in breast shape due to breathing and swelling. In this study, we evaluate the benefit of using virtual bolus for IMRT of left breast cancer. Materials and methods: 10 patients with early breast cancer who received radiation therapy after breastconserving surgery compared the VMAT and IMRT plans using the virtual bolus method and without using it. The first analysis compared the V95%, HI, CI of treatment volume, Dmean, V5, V20, V30 of ipsilateral lung, and Dmean of heart in VMAT plan made using the virtual bolus method(VMAT_VB) to the plan without using it(VMAT_NoVB) in case there is no change in the breast. In IMRT, the same method was used. The second analysis compared TCP and NTCP based on each treatment plan in case there is 1cm expansion of treatment volume. Result: If there is no change in breast, V95% in VB Plan(VMAT_VB, IMRT_VB) and NoVB Plan(VMAT_NoVB, IMRT_NoVB) is all over 99% on each treatment plan. V95% in VMAT_NoVB and VMAT_VB is 99.80±0.17% and 99.75±0.12%, V95% in IMRT_NoVB and IMRT_VB is 99.67±0.26% and 99.51±0.15%. Difference of HI, CI is within 3%. OAR dose in VB plan is a little high than NoVB plan, and did not exceed guidelines. If there is 1cm change in breast, VMAT_NoVB and IMRT_NoVB are less effective for treatment. But VMAT_VB and IMRT_VB continue similar treatment effect compared in case no variation of breast. Conclusion: This study confirms the benefit of using a virtual bolus during VMAT and IMRT to compensate potential breast shape modification.