• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2004

Even though the wedge factor was defined by ICRU, RTPS uses other definition different from the wedge factor to consider the wedge effect to correct dose. Because the factors with different concept are defined in a very different way, replacement of different factor could make severe error of dose and is unacceptable because their values are very different from each other. Radiotherapy machine installed in department includes physical wedges and function of dynamic wedge by upper jaws, and Eclipse and Pinnacle$^{3}$ such as RTPS are used. The wedge factors, relative wedge output factors and wedge field output factors of physical wedges and dynamic wedges were measured by an ionization chamber in water phantom. They are analyzed and compared in according to wedge position, field size, wedge angle, X-ray quality, measurement condition. Wedge factor, relative wedge output factors and wedge field output factors of dynamic wedges comparing physical wedges have an effect of several factors. Main factors effecting to the factors of dynamic wedges were field size and wedge angle. Beam quality of X-ray introduces a few effect to the factors. Because the factors related to wedge and defined with different concepts are different from each other, to reduce dose error it should be input by values proper to RTPS.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.3-17
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• 1997

Because a wedged beam consists of attenuated primary photons and scattered radiations from wedge, the spectrum of the wedged beam does not coincide with that of an open beam with same geometry. The aims of current report are to get exact information about whether effects of 15-60$^{\circ}$ wedge for 4 -10 MV photon beams should be considered for dose calculation or not, and to suggest a reference condition for measurement of wedge transmission factor. Percent depth dose of both open and wedged fields with angles of 15, 30, 45, 60$^{\circ}$ for beams of 4 MV(Clinac 4/100, Varian), two 6 MV(Clinac 6/100 and Clinac 2100C, Varian), 10 MV(Clinac 2100C, Varian) X-rays were measured to 30cm deep in water using ionization chambers. Hardening factors of photon beams were calculated with measured PDDs. Both field size factors and transmission factors of wedge filters were measured at d$_{max}$ in water. Beam hardening factors of wedged fields of 4 and 6 MV X-ray were larger than 1 for all wedge angles, field sizes and depths deeper than d$_{max}$ Beam hardening factors for wedge angles 15, 30, 45, 60$^{\circ}$ for 10$\times$10cm were respectively 1.010, 1.014, 1.023 and 1.034 for 4MV X-ray, 1.005, 1.008, 1.019, and 1.024 for 6MV X-ray of Clinac 6/100, 1.011, 1.021, 1.032, 1.036 for 6MV X-ray of Clinac 2100C, and 1.008, 1.012, 1.012 and 1.012 for 10MV X-ray. Beam hardening factors of 10MV X-ray were 1 within 1.2％ difference for all wedge angles, depths and field sizes. It was made clear that for 6MV X-rays, the beam hardening factor depends on treatment machine. The relationship of the factor and depth was linear. Field size factor at d$_{max}$ was independent of wedge angle except for the field of 15$\times$15cm. and maximum difference of the field size factors for the field size was 1.4％ for 4MV X-ray. When the wedge factor is determined, dependence of the factor on field size is negligible at d$_{max}$ but should be considered at deeper depth. Calculating dose distribution or MU, the beam hardening factor should be applied for 4~6MV X-ray beams, but might not be considered for 10MV beam. When wedge transmission factor was determined at d$_{max}$ or in air, field size factors for open field are also applicable to wedged fields, but otherwise, field size factor for each wedge or wedge factor depending on field size should be applied.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2010

The evaluation of Varian enhanced dynamic wedges (EDW) were performed in terms of quality assurance in external radiotherapy. The seven (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60 deg.) EDW angles were evaluated for 6 and 15 MV x-rays in Varian Linac. The STT (segmented treatment table) for a field were calculated and compared with actual movement of the jaw using Dynalog files in order to evaluate mechanical operation. Two dimensional array detector and an ionization chamber were used to measure dose distributions in phantom from Linac. The mechanical movement of jaw was agreed with its expectation and two dimensional dose distributions including beam profiles were in agreement with RTP data approximately. In comparison with RTP calculations the percentage difference of output dose values for 100 MU irradiation was less than 2.9% and measured wedge factor was less than 2.6%. These results are shown that there is no problem in clinical applications of EDW equipped on this linac.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

Purpose: Photon beam data of linear accelerators in Korea are collected, analyzed, and a simple method for checking and verifying the dose calculations in a TPS are suggested. Materials and Methods: Photon beam data such as output calibration condition, output factor, wedge factor, percent depth dose, beam profile, and beam quality were collected from 26 institutions in Korea. In order to verify the accuracy of dose calculation, ten sample planning tests were peformed. These Include square, elongated, and blocked fields, wedge fields, off-axis dose calculation, SSD variation. The planned data were compared to that of manual calculations. Results: The average and standard deviation of photon beam quality for 6, 10, and 15 MV were $0.576{\pm}0.005,\;0.632{\pm}0.004,\;and\;0.647{\pm}0.006$, respectively. The output factors of 6 MV photon beam measured at depth of dose maximum for $5{\times}5cm,\;15{\times}15cm,\;20{\times}20cm\;were\;0.944{\pm}0.006,\;1.031{\pm}0.006,\;and\;1.055{\pm}0.007$. For 10 MV photon beam, the values were $0.935{\pm}0.006,\;1.031{\pm}0.007,\;1.054{\pm}0.0005$. The collected data were not enough to calculate average, the output factors for 15MV photon beam with field size of $5{\times}5cm,\;15{\times}15cm,\;20{\times}20cm\;were\;0.941{\pm}0.008,\;1.032{\pm}0.004,\;1.049{\pm}0.014$. There was seven institutions $e{\times}ceeding$ tolerance when monitor unit values calculated from treatment planning system and manually were compared. The measured average MU values for the machines calibrated at SAD setup were 3 MU and 5 MU higher than the machines calibrated at SSD for 6 MV and 10 MV, respectively except the wedge case. When the wedges were inserted, the MU values to deliver 100 cGy to 5 cm depends on manufactures. When the same wedge angle was used, Siemens machine requires more MUs then Varian machine. Conclusion: In this study, photon beam data are collected and analyzed to provide a baseline value for chocking beam data and the accuracy of dose calculation for a treatment planning system.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.115-119
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• 1992

The beam characteristics and dosimetric measurements of the 6MV X-ray and 6MeV electron beam from a ML-6M linear accelerator are examined. The Percent Depth Dose(PDD) table and the tissue Maximum Ratio(TMR) table are taken from measurement as a function of the field size and the depth. The calculated TMR table from PDD table is compared with those from measurement. Other beam characteristics such as output factor, beam profile(including flatness, symmetry and penumbra), wedge, and the variation of Dmax are presented. All of these dosimetric measurements sufficiently characterized the beam to permit safe clinical use.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 1988

The beam characteristics and dosimetric measurements of the 10MV X-ray beam from a Mevatron KD linear accelerator are examined. The Percent Depth Dose (POD) table and the Tissue Maximum Ratio (TMR) table are taken from measurement as a function of the field size and the depth. The calculated TMR table from PDD table is compared with those from measurement. Other beam characteristics such as output factor, beam profile (including flatness, symmetry and penumbra), wedge, and the variation of Dmax are presented.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-141
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• 1991

A comprehensive set of dosimetric measurements has been made on the Varian Clinac 1800 15 MV photon beam. Beam quality, percentage depth dose, dose in the build up region, output, symmetry and flatness, transmission through iead (Cerrobend), tray attenuation, isodose curves for the open and wedged fields were measured using 3 dimensional water phantom dosimetry system (including film densitometer system) and polystyrene phantoms. These dosimetric measurements sufficiently characterized the beam to permit clinical use. The depth dose characteristics of photon beam is $d_{max}$ of 3.0 cm and percentage depth dose of $76.8\%$ at 10 cm,100 cm source-surface distance, field size of $10\times10\;cm^2$ for 15 MV X-ray beam. The Output factors ranged 0.927 for $4\times4\;cm^2$ field to 1,087 for $35\times35\;cm^2$ field. The build-up level of maximum dose was at 3.0 cm and surface dose was approximately $15.5\%$ for a field size $10\times10\;cm^2$ The stability of output is $within\pm1\%$ and flatness and symmetry are $within\pm3\%$. The half value thickness (HVL) of lead is 13 mm, which corresponds to an attenuation coefficient of $0.053\;mm^{-1}$. These figures compare facorably with the manufacturesr`s specifications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2003

목적 : 조사면 크기에 따른 금속쐐기와 가상쐐기에 의한 6 MV 와 15 MV 엑스선의 출력 및 상부와 하부 에 설치하는 금속쐐기의 출력을 비교하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : Varian Clinac21EX(미국)는 두부의 상부와 하부에 설치하는 각각의 금속쐐기와 제한기에 의한 가상쐐기 기능을 가지고 있다. 금속쐐기의 쐐기각은 네 가지 (15$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$, 45$^{\circ}$, 60$^{\circ}$)이며 투과력에 무관하게 한 쐐기각에 대한 쐐기는 사하부는 각 1 개이고, 가상쐐기는 일곱 가지 ($10^{\circ}$, 15$^{\circ}$, 20$^{\circ}$, 25$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$, 45$^{\circ}$, 60$^{\circ}$) 이다. 각 쐐기에 대하여 3$\times$3～20$\times$20 $\textrm{cm}^2$ 의 조사면 크기에서 6 및 15 MV 엑스선의 쐐기출력인수 (wedge field output factor)를 $d_{max}$와 10 $\textrm{cm}^2$ 깊이에서 측정하였다. 조사면크기와 측정깊이에 따른 쐐기출력인수의 변화추이를 관찰하였다. 쐐기출력인수 O $F_{Wdg}$는 다음과 같다. O $F_{Wdg}$(r)= $D_{Wdg}$(r)/ $D_{op}$ ( $r_{0}$) 여기서 $r_{0}$와 r은 각각 민조사면의 기준조사면크기, 쐐기조사면크기이다. 하부쐐기에 대한 상부쐐기의 출력인수의 상대적인 백분율 차이, %ROD=l00$\times$(O $F_{upWdg}$/O $F_{lowWdg}$ lowWdg/ - 1)를 구하였다. 조사면크기와 깊이에 따른 %ROD의 변화추이를 평가하였으며 쐐기 각각에 대하여 출력인수를 측정해야하는지 평가하였다. 결과 : 금속쐐기에 대한 쐐기출력인수는 방사선의 투과력과 깊이에 관계없이 조사면 크기가 커짐에 따라 증가하였으나 가상쐐기의 쐐기출력인수는 쐐기각이 작은 경우에는 조사면크기가 커짐에 따라 증가하다가 감소하였으며 최대값을 보이는 조사면크기는 쐐기각이 커짐에 반하여 감소하였으며 투과력에 관계없이 60。 쐐기에 대해서는 조사면 크기가 4 cm(A/P=1) 이상에서 조사면크기가 커짐에 따라 감소하였다. 6 MV 엑스선 에 대한 10 cm 깊이에서 15。 쐐기와 15 MV 엑스선에 대한 10 cm 깊이에서 45。 쐐기의 A/P 가 1.5보다 작은 조사면을 제외하고는 조사면의 크기가 커짐에 따라 %ROD는 감소하였다. $d_{max}$에서는 15。 쐐기와 30。 쐐기에 대해서는 %ROD가 음수였으며 절대값이 증가하였다. 이는 곧 조사면의 크기가 커짐에 따라 상부쐐기의 쐐기출력계수가 하부쐐기와 접근하고 드디어는 상부쐐기의 출력인수가 하부쐐기의 출력인수보다 작아질 수도 있다는 것을 의미하고 있다. 또한 %ROD 는 쐐기각이 클수록 변화가 컸으며, 조사면 크기가 커짐에 따라 10 cm 깊이에서보다 $d_{max}$에서 더 급하게 감소하였다. %ROD 는 6 MV 엑스선에 대해서는 -0.52～4.18 % 였고, 15 MV 엑스선에 대해서는 -0.44-4.18 % 였다. 결론 : 두 가지 투과력의 엑스선이 방출되는 선형가속기의 상하부 쐐기와 가상쐐기의 출력인수를 측정하여 비교하였다. 결과에서 얻어진 결론은 아래와 같다. 1. 조사면의 크기가 커짐에 따라 금속쐐기의 출력계수 는 증가하였으나 가상쐐기의 경우는 증가하다가 감소하거나 큰 쐐기각에 대해서는 감소만 하였다. 2. 상부쐐 기와 하부쐐기는 쐐기출력인수가 4% 이상 차이가 날 수 있으므로 독립적으로 측정하여 이용하여야 할 것이다.것이다.다.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

A commercial ion chamber matrix was examined the characteristics and its performance for radiotherapy qualify assurance. The device was the I'mRT 2D-MatriXX (Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany). The 2D-MatriXX device consists of a 1020 vented ion chamber array, arranged in $24{\times}24cm^2$ matrix. Each ion chamber has a volume of $0.08cm^3$, spacing of 0.762 cm and minimum sampling time of 20 ms. For the investigation of the characteristics, dose linearity, output factor, short-term reproducibility and dose rate dependency were tested. In the testing of dose linearity. It has shown a good signal linearity within 1% in the range of $1{\sim}800$cGy. Dose rate dependency was found to be lower than 0.4% (Range: 100-600 Mu/min) relative to a dose rate of 300 Mu/min as a reference. Output factors matched very well within 0.5% compared with commissioned beam data using a ionization chamber (CC01, Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) in the range of field sizes $3{\times}3{\sim}24{\times}24cm^2$. Short-term reproducibility (6 times with a interval of 15 minute) was also shown a good agreement within 0.5%, when the temperature and the pressure were corrected by each time of measurement. in addition, we compared enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW, Varian, Palo Alto, USA) profiles from calculated values in the radiation planning system with those from measurements of the MatriXX. Furthermore, anon-uniform IMRT dose fluence was tested. All the comparison studies have shown good agreements. In this study, the MatriXX was evaluated as a reliable dosimeter, and it could be used as a simplistic and convenient tool for radiotherapy qualify assurance.