• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.655-662
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• 2010

By using lotus notes server-client system, the database related to general information of cancer patients, radiation treatment simulation, cancer treatment information and all kinds of information of radiation oncology department need to be developed for effective information management and also user interface was developed for input and output of information. This database also could be used for clinical study, patient care research and medical education. By the development of this electronic chart of the department of radiation oncology, the clinic datum and medical information management could be connected effectively and treatment information according to treatment machine also could be acquired and contributed for improving treatment efficiency, cutting down the waiting time for clinic.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2000

Background :The authors have developed a Digital image chart(DIC) and digital Radiotherapy Record System (DRRS). We have evaluated the DIC and DRRS for reliability, usefulness, ease of use, and efficiency. Materials and Methods :The basic design of the DIC and DRRS was to build an digital image database of radiation therapy Patient records for a more efficient and timely flow of critical image information throughout the department. This system is a submit of comprehensive radiation oncology management system (C-ROMS) and composed of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a radiotherapy information database, and a radiotherapy imaging database. The DIC and DRRS were programmed using Delphi under a Windows 95 environment and is capable of displaying the digital images of patients identification photos, simulation films, radiotherapy setup, diagnostic radiology images, gross lesion Photos, and radiotherapy Planning isodose charts with beam arrangements. Twenty-three clients in the department are connected by Ethernet (10 Mbps) to the central image server (Sun Ultra-sparc 1 workstation). Results :From the introduction of this system in February 1998 through December 1999, we have accumulated a total of 15,732 individual images for 2,556 patients. We can organize radiation therapy in a 'paperless' environment in 120 patients with breast cancer. Using this system, we have succeeded in the prompt, accurate, and simultaneous access to patient care information from multiple locations throughout the department. This coordination has resulted in improved operational efficiency within the department. Conclusion :The authors believe that the DIC and DRRS has contributed to the improvement of radiation oncology department efficacy as well as to time and resource savings by providing necessary visual information throughout the department conveniently and simultaneously. As a result, we can also achieve the 'paperless' and 'filmless' practice of radiation oncology with this system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2012

The obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent. It may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems such as lifestyle disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Furthermore, it may cause the mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, hyperphagia, and so on by shrinking psychologically. So, it is regarded as the serious worldwide social problem. Recently, although there are many general obesity care methods with various approaches, these can't be the radical obesity care because of the side effects such as surgery aftereffect, drug addiction, and so on. For these reasons, a methodical approach with a consideration of individual obesity pattern is strongly demanded. In this study, complex obesity care and management system which is overcome the weakness of non-surgical obesity treatment is proposed. And the individually adapted obesity treatment system with the far-infrared therapy module, oxygen therapy module, color therapy module, and microwave therapy module was developed. The complex obesity treatment system which is proposed in this study, could improve the efficiency of treatment by suggesting the various treatment protocols. And proposed system could be the foundation of the high quality obesity treatment system.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.156-160
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• 2004

An essential quality assurance (QA) procedure in high dose rate (HDR) remote after-loading brachytherapy is that of the verification of the Ir-192 HDR source positioning accuracy. A number of methods using mechanical rulers or autoradiograph and video cameras have been reported to check the positional error of the Ir-192 source. In this study, the feasibility of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) PC camera, with a fluorescent screen, was investigated. The agreement between the planned and measured dwell position was better than 1 mm and dwell times better than 0.4 sec. Our results indicate that the CMOS PC camera system could be used as a QA tool for the on-line determination of the source position and dwell time.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.43 no.6 s.312
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• pp.68-75
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• 2006

During cancer therapy by using high energy radiation, it is possible to improve the radiation therapy efficiency by performing a precise radiation therapy after verification of generated setup errors. In this paper, the video based electronic portal imaging device (EPID) which could display the portal image with near real time was developed to verify treatment position errors in radiation therapy instead of an analog typed portal film. This EPID system for applying QA tool of radiation therapy machine was consisted of a metal/fluorescent screen, $45^{\circ}$mirror, camera and image grabber. Radiation field verification has been performed to check quality assurance of the treatment machine itself by using this EPID system. The radiation field error was easily observed by edge detection of irradiated field size on EPID image when $0.6^{\circ}$ shift of collimator angle was generated. So, this implemented EPID system could be used as a radiation QA tool.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.150-158
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• 2014

Radiation-related practitioners and radiation-treated patients at medical institutions are inevitably exposed to radiation for diagnosis and treatment. Although standards for maximum doses are recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICPR) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), more direct and available measurement and analytical methods are necessary for optimal exposure management for potential exposure subjects such as practitioners and patients. Thus, in this study we developed a system for real-time radiation monitoring at a distance that works with existing portable device. The monitoring system comprises three parts for detection, imaging, and transmission. For miniaturization of the detection part, a scintillation detector was designed based on a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The imaging part uses a wireless charge-coupled device (CCD) camera module along with the detection part to transmit a radiation image and measured data through the transmission part using a Bluetooth-enabled portable device. To evaluate the performance of the developed system, diagnostic X-ray generators and sources of $^{137}Cs$, $^{22}Na$, $^{60}Co$, $^{204}Tl$, and $^{90}Sr$ were used. We checked the results for reactivity to gamma, beta, and X-ray radiation and determined that the error range in the response linearity is less than 3% with regard to radiation strength and in the detection accuracy evaluation with regard to measured distance using MCNPX Code. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to cost savings for radiation detection system configuration and to individual exposure management.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2008

Purpose: To enlarge the efficiency of operation and establish a constituency for development of new radiotherapy treatment through database which is established by arranging and indexing radiotherapy related affairs in well organized manner to have easy access by the user. Materials and Methods: In this study, Access program provided by Microsoft (MS Office Access) was used to operate the data base. The data of radiation oncology was distinguished by a business logs and maintenance expenditure in addition to stock management of accessories with respect to affairs and machinery management. Data for education and research was distinguished by education material for department duties, user manual and related thesis depending upon its property. Registration of data was designed to have input form according to its subject and the information of data was designed to be inspected by making a report. Number of machine failure in addition to its respective repairing hours from machine maintenance expenditure in a period of January 2008 to April 2009 was analyzed with the result of initial system usage and one year after the usage. Results: Radiation oncology database system was accomplished by distinguishing work related and research related criteria. The data are arranged and collected according to its subjects and classes, and can be accessed by searching the required data through referring the descriptions from each criteria. 32.3% of total average time was reduced on analyzing repairing hours by acquiring number of machine failure in addition to its type in a period of January 2008 to April 2009 through machine maintenance expenditure. Conclusion: On distinguishing and indexing present and past data upon its subjective criteria through the database system for radiation oncology, the use of information can be easily accessed to enlarge the efficiency of operation, and in further, can be a constituency for improvement of work process by acquiring various information required for new radiotherapy treatment in real time.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the developed dose verification program for in vivo dosimetry based on transit dose in radiotherapy. Five intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans of lung cancer patients were used in the irradiation of a homogeneous solid water phantom and anthropomorphic phantom. Transit dose distribution was measured using electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and used for the calculation of in vivo dose in patient. The average passing rate compared with treatment planning system based on a gamma index with a 3% dose and a 3 mm distance-to-dose agreement tolerance limit was 95% for the in vivo dose with the homogeneous phantom, but was reduced to 81.8% for the in vivo dose with the anthropomorphic phantom. This feasibility study suggested that transit dose-based in vivo dosimetry can provide information about the actual dose delivery to patients in the treatment room.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.396-404
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• 2002

Purpose : Many papers support a correlation between rectal complications and rectal doses in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy. In vivo dosimetry in the rectum following the ICRU report 38 contributes to the quality assurance in HDR brachytherapy, especially in minimizing side effects. This study compares the rectal doses calculated in the radiation treatment planning system to that measured with a silicon diode the in vivo dosimetry system. Methods : Nine patients, with a uterine cervical carcinoma, treated with Iridium-192 high dose rate brachytherapy between June 2001 and Feb. 2002, were retrospectively analysed. Six to eight-fractions of high dose rate (HDR)-intracavitary radiotherapy (ICR) were delivered two times per week, with a total dose of $28\~32\;Gy$ to point A. In 44 applications, to the 9 patients, the measured rectal doses were analyzed and compared with the calculated rectal doses using the radiation treatment planning system. Using graphic approximation methods, in conjunction with localization radiographs, the expected dose values at the detector points of an intrarectal semiconductor dosimeter, were calculated. Results : There were significant differences between the calculated rectal doses, based on the simulation radiographs, and the calculated rectal doses, based on the radiographs in each fraction of the HDR ICR. Also, there were significant differences between the calculated and measured rectal doses based on the in-vivo diode dosimetry system. The rectal reference point on the anteroposterior line drawn through the lower end of the uterine sources, according to ICRU 38 report, received the maximum rectal doses in only 2 out of the nine patients $(22.2\%)$. Conclusion : In HDR ICR planning for conical cancer, optimization of the dose to the rectum by the computer-assisted planning system, using radiographs in simulation, is improper. This study showed that in vivo rectal dosimetry, using a diode detector during the HDR ICR, could have a useful role in quality control for HDR brachytherapy in cervical carcinomas. The importance of individual dosimeters for each HDR ICR is clear. In some departments that do not have the in vivo dosimetry system, the radiation oncologist has to find, from lateral fluoroscopic findings, the location of the rectal marker before each fractionated HDR brachytherapy, which is a necessary and important step of HDR brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2000

The objective of recent radiation therapy is to improve the quality of treatment and the after treatment quality of life. In Korea, sharing the same objective, significant advancement was made due to the gradual increase of patient number and rapid increase of treatment facilities. The advancement includes generalization of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), application of linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and furthermore, the introduction of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Authors in this paper prospectively review the followings: the advancement of radiation oncology in Korea, the recent status of four-dimensional radiation therapy, IMRT, the concept of the treatment with biological conformity, the trend of combined chemoradiotherapy, the importance of internet and radiation oncology information management system as influenced by the revolution of information technology, and finally the global trend of telemedicine in radiation oncology. Additionally, we suggest the methods to improve radiotherapy treatment, which include improvement of quality assurance (QA) measures by developing Koreanized QA protocol and system, regional study about clinical protocol development for phase three clinical trial, suggestion of unified treatment protocol and guideline by academic or research societies, domestic generation of treatment equipment's or system, establishment of nationwide data base of radiation-oncology-related information, and finally patterns-of-care study about major cancers.