• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2010

Purpose: In the treatment of high-energy protons Air gap (the distance between the patient and the exit Beam) Lateral Penumbra of the changes to the increase in the radiation fields can form unnecessary and Increase the maximum dose at the site of treatment and reduced the minimum dose homogeneity of dose distributions can decline. Air gap due to this change in dose distribution compared to investigate studied. Materials and Methods: Received proton therapy at our institution Lung, Liver patients were selected and the size of six other Air gap in Field A and Field B 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 cm Proton external beam planning system by setting up a treatment plan established. Air gap according to the Lateral Penumbra area and DVH (Dose Volume Histogram) to compare the maximum dose and minimum dose of PCTV areas were compared. In addition, the dose homogeneity within PCTV Homogeneity index to know the value and compared. Results: Air gap (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 cm) at each change in field size were analyzed according to the Lateral Penumbra region Field A Change in the Air gap 2~10 cm by 1.36~1.75 cm, the average continuously increased about 28.7% and Field B Change in the Air gap 2~10 cm by 1.36~1.75 cm, the average continuously increased about 31.6%. The result of DVH analysis for relative dose of the maximum dose According to Air gap 2~10 cm is the mean average of 110.3% from 108.1% to a sustained increased by approximately 2.03% and The average relative dose of minimum dose is the mean average of 93.9% percent to 90.8 percent from the continuous decrease of about 3.31 percent. The result of Homogeneity index value to the according to Air gap 2~10 cm is the 2-fold increase from 1.09 to 2.6. Conclusion: In proton therapy case, we can see the increasing of lateral penumbra area when airgap getting increase. And increasing of Dmax and decreasing Dmin in the field are making increase homogeneity index, So we can realize there are not so good homogeneity in the PCTV. Therefore we should try to minimize air gap in proton therapy case.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2016

Purpose : BoS(Base of Skull) Frame, the fixation tool which is used for the proton of brain cancer increases the lateral penumbra by increasing the airgap (the distance between patient and beam jet), due to the collision of the beam of the posterior oblique direction. Thus, we manufactured the fixation tool per se for improving the limits of BoS frame, and we'd like to evaluate the utility of the manufactured fixation tool throughout this study. Materials and Methods : We've selected the 3 patients of brain cancer who have received the proton therapy from our hospital, and also selected the 6 beam angles; for this, we've selected the beam angle of the posterior oblique direction. We' ve measured the planned BoS frame and the distance of Snout for each beam which are planned for the treatment of the patient using the BoS frame. After this, we've proceeded with the set-up that is above the location which was recommended by the manufacturer of the BoS frame, at the same beam angle of the same patient, by using our in-house Bos frame fixation tool. The set-up was above 21 cm toward the superior direction, compared to the situation when the BoS frame was only used with the basic couch. After that, we've stacked the snout to the BoS frame as much as possible, and measured the distance of snout. We've also measured the airgap, based on the gap of that snout distance; and we've proceeded the normalization based on each dose (100% of each dose), after that, we've conducted the comparative analysis of lateral penumbra. Moreover, we've established the treatment plan according to the changed airgap which has been transformed to the Raystation 5.0 proton therapy planning system, and we've conducted the comparative analysis of DVH(Dose Volume Histogram). Results : When comparing the result before using the in-house Bos frame fixation tool which was manufactured for each beam angle with the result after using the fixation tool, we could figure out that airgap than when not used in accordance with the use of the in-house Bos frame fixation tool was reduced by 5.4 cm ~ 15.4 cm, respectively angle. The reduced snout distance means the airgap. Lateral Penumbra could reduce left, right, 0.1 cm ~ 0.4 cm by an angle in accordance with decreasing the airgap while using each beam angle in-house Bos frame fixation tool. Due to the reduced lateral penumbra, Lt.eyeball, Lt.lens, Lt. hippocampus, Lt. cochlea, Rt. eyeball, Rt. lens, Rt. cochlea, Rt. hippocampus, stem that can be seen that the dose is decreased by 0 CGE ~ 4.4 CGE. Conclusion : It was possible to reduced the airgap by using our in-house Bos frame fixation tool for the proton therapy; as a result, it was possible to figure out that the lateral penumbra reduced. Moreover, it was also possible to check through the comparative analysis of the treatment plan that when we reduce the lateral penumbra, the reduction of the unnecessary irradiation for the normal tissues. Therefore, Using the posterior oblique the Brain cancer proton therapy should be preceded by decreasing the airgap, by using our in-house Bos frame fixation tool; also, the continuous efforts for reducing the airgap as much as possible for the proton therapy of other area will be necessary as well.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 1983

The reduced profiles of $C_2$ 5150.56, CN 3864.32, MgH 5150.20 and FeI 5150.84 lines, representing the penumbra, the penumbra-umbra boundary and the umbra of spa 6403 have been analyzed by comparing them with the synthetic profiles computed from a set of umbral and penumbral models. The results are presented and discussed. It is suggested that there may be a significant lateral flow of pbotospheric radiation into the umbral and penumbral regions of the sunspots.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2002

Several investigators have presented the effects of external magnetic fields on the dose distributions for clinical electron and photon beams. We focus the low energy electron beam with more lateral scatter In this study we calculated the beam profiles for an clinical electron beam of 6 MeV with longitudinal magnetic fields of 0.5 T-3.0 T using a Monte Carlo code. The principle of dose enhancements in the penumbra region is to deflect the laterally scattered electrons from its initial direction by the skewness of the laterally scattered electrons along the direction of magnetic field lines due to Lorentz force under longitudinal magnetic field. To discuss the dose enhancement effect on the penumbra area from the calculated results, we introduced the simple term of penumbra reduction ratio (PRR), which is defined as the percentage difference between the penumbra with and without magnetic field at the same depth. We found that the average PRR are 33%, and 49% over the depths of 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, and 2.4 cm for the magnetic fields of 2.0 T and 3.0 T respectively. For the case of 0.5 T and 1.0 T the effects of magnetic filed were not observed significantly. In order to obtain the dose enhancement effects by the external magnetic field, we think that its strength should be more than 2 T approximately. We expect that the PRR would be saturated to 50-60% with magnetic fields of 3 T-5 T As a result of these calculations we found that the penumbra widths can be reduced with increased magnetic fields. This Penumbra reduction is explained as a result of electron lateral spread outside the geometrical edges of the beam in a longitudinal magnetic field. This means that the electron therapy benefits from the external magnetic fields.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.36-42
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• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20%$) at the region of junction of fields. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}5%$) in these junction areas and to apply it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20 MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10\;cm$ field at 100cm of SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm acquires central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance according to the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduces the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced to approximately 0.2 MeV. These effects were almost Independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase(less than 3%) in the surface dose and a small increase(less than 1%) in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction at the point of penumbra width($35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$). We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be used to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applied to clinical practices.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20\%$) at the field junction area. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose homogeneities(${\pm}5\%$) in these junction areas and considered application it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10cm$ field at 100cm SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm, We acquired central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance as the thickness of the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduce the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced by approximately 0.2MeV. These effects were almost independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase $(less\;than\;3\%)\;in\;the\;surface\;dose\;and\;a\;small\;Increase(less\;than\;1\%)$ in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction, and penumbra width was $35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$. We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be use to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applicated in clinical practices.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

In this work we developed a EGS4 control code to calculate the dose distributions for high energy electron beams in water phantom applied longitudinal magnetic field. We reviewed the electron's motion in magnetic field and delivered equations for direction changs of the electron by the external magnetic field. The mathematical results are inserted into the EGS4 code system to account for the presence of external magnetic fields in phantom. The electron pencil beam paths of 6 MeV in water phantom are calculated for magnetic fields of 1-3 T and the dose distributions for a field of 1.0 cm in diameter are calculated for magnetic fields of 0.6-1 T using the code. From the results of path calculations we found that the lateral ranges of the electrons are reduced in the magnetic field of 3 T. For a field of 1 cm diameter and a magnetic field of 1 T, the small dose enhancement near the range of the electrons on the depth dose and the penumbra reduction of 0.15 cm on the beam profile are observed. We discussed and evaluated the results from the theoretical concepts.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.188-198
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• 2012

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of the collapsed cone convolution (CCC) algorithm for dose calculation in a treatment planning system (TPS), CorePLAN$^{TM}$. We implemented beam models for various setup conditions in TPS and calculated radiation dose using CCC algorithm for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beam in $50{\times}50{\times}50cm^3$ water phantom. Field sizes were $4{\times}4cm^2$, $6{\times}6cm^2$, $10{\times}10cm^2$, $20{\times}20cm^2$, $30{\times}30cm^2$ and $40{\times}40cm^2$ and each case was classified as open beam cases and wedged beam cases, respectively. Generated beam models were evaluated by comparing calculated data and measured data of percent depth dose (PDD) and lateral profile. As a result, PDD showed good agreement within approximately 2% in open beam cases and 3% in wedged beam cases except for build-up region and lateral profile also correspond within approximately 1% in field and 4% in penumbra region. On the other hand, the discrepancies were found approximately 4% in wedged beam cases. This study has demonstrated the accuracy of beam model-based CCC algorithm in CorePLAN$^{TM}$ and the most of results from this study were acceptable according to international standards. Although, the area with large dose difference shown in this study was not significant region in clinical field, the result of our study would open the possibility to apply CorePLAN$^{TM}$ into clinical field.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2012

Aquisition of accurate beam data is very important to calculate a reliable dose distribution of the treatment planning system for small radiation fields in intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS). For the measurement of small fields, the choice of a suitable detector is important due to the shape gradient in profile penumbra, the lack of lateral electronic equilibrium, and the effect of effective detector volume. Therefore, this study was to analyze the dosimetric characteristics of various detectors in measurement of beam data for small fields of linear accelerator. 0.01cc and 0.13cc ion chambers (CC01 and CC13) and a stereotactic diode detector(SFD) were used for measurement of small fields. The beam data, including the percent depth dose, output factor, and beam profile were acquired under 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams. Measurements were performed with the field size ranging from $2{\times}2cm^2$ to $5{\times}5cm^2$. For $2{\times}2cm^2$ field size, the differences of the ratios of $PDD_{20}$ and $PDD_{10}$ measured by CC01 and SFD detectors were 1.02% and 0.12% for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams, respectively. For field sizes larger than $3{\times}3cm^2$, the differences of values of $PDD_{20}/PDD_{10}$ obtained from each detector were 1.15% and 0.71% for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams, respectively. The output factors obtained from CC01 and SFD for $2{\times}2cm^2$ field size were within 0.5% and 1.5% for 6 MV and 15 MV, respectively. The differences in output factor of three detectors for $3{\times}3cm^2$ to $5{\times}5cm^2$ field sizes were within 0.5%. Profile penumbras measured by the SFD, CC01, and CC13 detectors at three depths were average 2.7 mm and 3.5 mm, 3.4 mm and 4.3 mm, and 5.2 mm and 6.1 mm for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams, respectively. In conclusion, it could be possible to use of the CC01 and SFD detectors for the measurement of percent depth dose and output factor for $2{\times}2cm^2$ field size, and to use of three detectors for $3{\times}3cm^2$ to $5{\times}5cm^2$ field sizes. CC01 and SFD detectors, consider ably smaller than the radiation field, should be used in order to accurately measure the profile penumbra for small field sizes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 1999

It is difficult to determine dosimetric characteristics for small field photon beams since such small fields do not achieve complete lateral electronic equilibrium and have steep dose gradients. Dosimetric characteristics of small field 4, 6, and 10 MeV photon beams have been measured in water with a diamond detector and compared to measurements using small volume cylindrical and plane parallel ionization chambers. Percent depth dose (PDD) and beam profiles for 6 and 10 MeV photon beams were measured with diamond detector and cylindrical ion chamber for small fields ranging from $1{\times}1\;to\;4{\times}4cm^2$. Total scatter factors($S_{c,p}$) for 4, 6, and 10 MeV photon beams were measured with diamond detector, cylindrical and plane parallel ion chambers for small fields ranging from $1{\times}1\;to\;4{\times}4cm^2$. The $S_{c,p}$ factors obtained with three detectors for 4, 6, and 10 MeV photon beams agreed well ($\pm1.2%$) for field sizes greater than $2{\times}2,\;2.5{\times}2.5,\;and\;3{\times}3\;cm^2$, respectively. For smaller field sizes, the cylindrical and plane parallel ionization chambers measure a smaller $S_{c,p}$ factor, as a result of the steep dose gradients across their sensitive volumes. The PDD values obtained with diamond detector and cylindrical ionization chamber for 6 and 10MeV photon beams agreed well ($\pm1.5%$) for field sizes greater than $4{\times}4\;cm^2$. For smaller field sizes, diamond detector produced a depth-dose curve which had a significantly shallower falloff than that obtained from the measurements of relative depth-dose with a cylindrical ionization chamber. For the measurements of beam profiles, a distortion in terms of broadened penumbra was observed with a cylindrical ionization chamber since diamond detector exhibited higher spatial resolution. The diamond detector with small sensitive volume, near water equivalent, and high spatial resolution is suitable detector compared to ionization chambers for the measurements of small field photon beams.