• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2009

The 4 bank mico-MLC (mMLC; Acculeaf, Direx, Isral) has been commissioned for clinical use of linac based stereotactic radiosurgery. The geometrical parameters to control the leaves were determined and comparisons between measured and calculated by the calculation model were performed in terms of absolute dose (cGy/100 MU). As a result of evaluating calculated dose for various field sizes and depths of 5 and 10 cm in water in the geometric condition of fixed SSD (source to surface distance) and fixed SCD (source to chamber distance), most of differences were within 1% for 6 MV and 15 MV x-rays. The penumbral widths at the isocenter were approximately evaluated to 0.29~0.43 cm depending on the field size for 6 MV and 0.36~0.51 cm for 15 MV x-rays. The average transmission and leakage for 6 MV and 15 MV x-rays were 6.6% and 7.4% respectively in single level of leaves fully closed. In case of dual level of leaves fully closed the measured transmission is approximately 0.5% for both 6 MV and 15 MV x-rays. Through the commissiong procedure we could verify the dose characteristics of mMLC and approximately evaluate the error ranges for treatment planning system.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2008

In this study, we have investigated the dose characteristics of PTW-LinaCheck designed to detect output of medical LINAC and discussed clinical use of the detector. The reproducibility, linearity, and dose rate dependency of the dosimeter were measured for photons of 6 and 15MV and the electrons of 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16MeV. To know the error ranges of the measured data in daily output measurement, the response variations due to geometrical setup errors were measured. As a result of measurement, the error range from the geometrical setup and the reproducibility was less than ${\pm}0.6%$ for given beam qualities in daily output measurement, where the errors from the linearity and the dose rate dependency were negligible. Finally, we concluded that the LinaCheck dosimeter has a good characteristics in terms of dose and setup convenience in daily output measurement. In addition we have shown an examples of clinical use of this dosimeter for measuring daily output more than 60 days.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 1995

The purpose of this research is to develop stereotactic localization and radiation measurement system for the efficient and precise radiosurgery. The algorithm to obtain a 3-D stereotactic coordinates of the target has been developed using a Fisher CT or angio localization. The procedure of stereotactic localization was programmed with PC computer, and consists of three steps: (1) transferring patient images into PC; (2) marking the position of target and reference points of the localizer from the patient image; (3) computing the stereotactic 3-D coordinates of target associated with position information of localizer. Coordinate transformation was quickly done on a real time base. The difference of coordinates computed from between Angio and CT localization method was within 2 mm, which could be generally accepted for the reliability of the localization system developed. We measured dose distribution in small fields of NEC 6 MVX linear accelerator using various detector; ion chamber, film, diode. Specific quantities measured include output factor, percent depth dose (PDD), tissue maximum ratio (TMR), off-axis ratio (OAR). There was small variation of measured data according to the different kinds of detectors used. The overall trends of measured beam data were similar enough to rely on our measurement. The measurement was performed with the use of hand-made spherical water phantom and film for standard arc set-up. We obtained the dose distribution as we expected. In conclusion, PC-based 3-D stereotactic localization system was developed to determine the stereotactic coordinate of the target. A convenient technique for the small field measurement was demonstrated. Those methods will be much helpful for the stereotactic radiosurgery.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1979

For accurate and easily shielding irregular shaped organ, its minimized penumbra region and a low melting point alloy 'Lead Y' and synchronizing instrument have been developed. The 'Lead Y' is the quaternary eutectic alloy and it is composed of Lead 30.0% Tin 11.5% Bismuth 48 5% Cadmium 10.0% The density of its at $22^{\circ}C$ is $9.8g/cm^3$ and the melting temperature has $40^{\circ}C\;to\;68^{\circ}C$. The thickness of 'Lead Y' for perfect shielding of Co-60 gamma ray and LINAC 10MeV x-ray is 6cm and 7cm respectively. The 'Lead Y' shielding block is casted directly on the styrofoam from which is cut with hot wire of synchronizer device. The special features and advantages of the Lead Y shielding block could be summarized as follows; 1. The shielding block for radiotherapy is rapidly processed only with boiling water and styrofoam. 2. It is not injure one's health and not danger of a fire, because of not generating of any metals vapor and evil smelling. 3. It is very effective to minimize secondary penumbra for the protection of healthy tissue from unnecessary ionizing radiation regardless of the magnification source to skin distance. 4. The HVL of the Lead Y is 1.2cm for Co-60 gamma ray and it's shielding effect is almost same as the pure lead block. 5. The hardness of Lead Y is 1.5 times higher than lead block. 6. It's reavailability is higher than lead block and then one block of Lead Y is reavailable about 30 to 40 times. 7. It is usefull for shielding of x-ray, gamma ray, beta-ray, electron and neutron radiation. 8. The materials for Lead Y are easy to acquire with reasonable price and tractable.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

The analog image based system consisted of a simulator and medical linear accelerator (LINAC) for radiotherapy was upgraded to digital medical image based system by exchanging the X-ray film with Computed Radiography (CR). With minimum equipments shift and similar treatment process, it was possible that the new digital image system was adapted by the users in short time. The film cassette and the film developer device were substituted with a CR cassette and a CR Reader, where the ViewBox was replaced with a small size PC and a monitor. The viewer software suitable for radiotherapy was developed to maximize the benefit of digital image, and as the result the convenience and the effectiveness was improved. It has two windows to display two different images in the same time and equipped various search capability, contouring, window leveling, image resizing, translation, rotation and registration functions. In order to avoid any discontinuance of the treatment while the transition to digital image, the film and the CR was used together for 1 week, and then the film developer was removed. Since then the CR System has been operated stably for 2 months, and the various requests from users have been reflected to improve the system.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of portal dosimetry in comparison with the MapCHECK2 measurments. In this study, a total of 65 treatment plans including both volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were retrospectively selected and analyzed (45 VMAT plans and 20 IMRT plans). A total of 4 types of linac models (VitalBeam, Trilogy, Clinac 21EXS, and Clianc iX) were used for the comparison between portal dosimetry and the MapCHECK2 measurements. The VMAT plans were delivered with two VitalBeam linacs (VitalBeam1 and VitalBeam2) and one Trilogy while the IMRT plans were delivered with one Clinac 21EXS and one Clinacl iX. The global gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and the MapCHECK2 measurements were analyzed with a gamma criterion of 3%/3 mm for IMRT while those were analyzed with a gamma criterion of 2%/2 mm for VMAT. Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and those of the MapCHECK2 measurements. For VMAT, the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry with the VitalBeam1, VitalBeam2, and Trilogy were $97.3%{\pm}3.5%$, $97.1%{\pm}3.4%$, and $97.5%{\pm}1.9%$, respectively. Those of the MapCHECK2 measurements were $96.8%{\pm}2.5%$, $96.3%{\pm}2.7%$, and $97.4%{\pm}1.3%$, respectively. For IMRT, the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry with Clinac 21EXS and Clinac iX were $99.7%{\pm}0.3%$ and $99.8%{\pm}0.2%$, respectively. Those of the MapCHECK2 measurements were $96.5%{\pm}3.3%$ and $97.7%{\pm}3.2%$, respectively. Except for the result with the Trilogy, no correlations were observed between the gamma passing rates of portal dosimetry and those of the MapCHECK2 measurements. Therefore, both the MapCHECK2 measurements and portal dosimetry can be used as an alternative to each other for patient-specific QA for both IMRT and VMAT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.323-329
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• 2015

This study is aimed at assessing whether dynamic wedge filters are appropriate to be used instead of physical wedge filters. The X-ray energy generated from linear accelerator is commercialize 6 MV and 10 MV. $15^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $60^{\circ}$ of physical wedge filter was irradiated by dose rate 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 MU/min for each angle and for comparison with a dynamic wedge filter, irradiate 96 times under the same conditions. The measurement conditions are as 100 cm source-film distance and $10{\times}10cm$ irradiated surface. A developed film was scanned and analyzed after a calibration through a dose analysis program and the dose rate was compared after calculating the standard deviation. Dynamic wedge filters make dose, scattered rays and treatment time reduced and very useful due to less irradiated doses to patients. The errors at each dose rate under the same conditions were irrelevant. Thus, treatment based on a high dose rate depending on the patient is expected to be feasible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.383-387
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• 2014

In this paper, for a new detection system development with the better accurate dose evaluation and beam distribution imaging using the small field irradiation of linear accelerator, the compound semiconductor based detection sensors were fabricated and the performance evaluation was investigated. The special particle-in-binder sedimentation was used for a large area film sensor fabrication. The detection properties for high energy x-rays were investigated from a dark current, an output current, a rising time, a falling time, and response delay measurement. The experimental results, the $TiO_2$ mixed $HgI_2$ sensor showed the best electrical characteristics than $PbI_2$, PbO, pure $HgI_2$. Linearity, repeatability, and accuracy tests from LINAC were tested, the $TiO_2$ mixed $HgI_2$ sensor showed the better performance than the commercially available dosimetry devices.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.92-100
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• 2018

The manufacturer of a linear accelerator (LINAC) has reported that the target melting phenomenon could be caused by a non-recommended output setting and the excessive use of monitor unit (MU) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Due to these reasons, we observed an unexpected beam interruption during the treatment of a patient in our institution. The target status was inspected and a replacement of the target was determined. After the target replacement, the beam profile was adjusted to the machine commissioning beam data, and the absolute doses-to-water for 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams were calibrated according to American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group (TG)-51 protocol. To verify the beam data after target replacement, the beam flatness, symmetry, output factor, and percent depth dose (PDD) were measured and compared with the commissioning data. The difference between the referenced and measured data for flatness and symmetry exhibited a coincidence within 0.3% for both 6 MV and 10 MV, and the difference of the PDD at 10 cm depth ($PDD_{10}$) was also within 0.3% for both photon energies. Also, patient-specific quality assurances (QAs) were performed with gamma analysis using a 2-D diode and ion chamber array detector for eight patients. The average gamma passing rates for all patients for the relative dose distribution was $99.1%{\pm}1.0%$, and those for absolute dose distribution was $97.2%{\pm}2.7%$, which means the gamma analysis results were all clinically acceptable. In this study, we recommend that the beam characteristics, such as beam profile, depth dose, and output factors, should be examined. Further, patient-specific QAs should be performed to verify the changes in the overall beam delivery system when a target replacement is inevitable; although it is more important to check the beam output in a daily routine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1773-1777
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• 2016

Diagnostic and therapeutic radiation fields are planned so as to reduce side-effects while maximising the dose to site but effects on healthy tissues are inevitable. Radiation causes strand breaks in DNA of exposed cells which can lead to chromosomal aberrations and cause malfunction and cell death. Several researchers have highlighted the damaging effects of high dose radiation but still there is a lacuna in identifying damage due to low dose radiation used for diagnostic purposes. Blood is an easy resource to study genotoxicity and to estimate the effects of radiation. The micronucleus assay and chromosomal aberration can indicate genetic damage and our present aim was to establish these with lymphocytes in an in vitro model to predict the immediate effects low dose radiation. Blood was collected from healthy individuals and divided into 6 groups with increasing radiation dose i.e., 0Gy, 0.10Gy, 0.25Gy, 0.50Gy, 1Gy and 2Gy. The samples were irradiated in duplicates using a LINAC in the radiation oncology department. Standard protocols were applied for chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assays. Metaphases were stained in Giemsa and 200 were scored per sample for the detection of dicentric or acentric forms. For micronuclei detection, 200 metaphases. Giemsa stained binucleate cells per sample were analysed for any abnormality. The micronuclei (MN) frequency was increased in cells exposed to the entire range of doses (0.1-2Gy) delivered. Controls showed minimal MN formation ($2.0%{\pm}0.05$) with triple MN ($5.6%{\pm}2.0$) frequency at the lowest dose. MN formation increased exponentially with the radiation dose thereafter with a maximum at 2Gy. Significantly elevated numbers of dicentric chromosomes were also observed, even at doses of 0.1-0.5Gy, compared to controls, and acentric chromosomes were apparent at 2Gy. In conclusion we can state that lymphocytes can be effectively used to study direct effect of low dose radiation.