• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2006

Automated analysis software was developed to measure the magnitude of the intrafractional and interfractional errors during breast radiation treatments. Error analysis results are important for determining suitable planning target volumes (PTV) prior to Implementing breast-conserving 3-D conformal radiation treatment (CRT). The electrical portal imaging device (EPID) used for this study was a Portal Vision LC250 liquid-filled ionization detector (fast frame-averaging mode, 1.4 frames per second, 256X256 pixels). Twelve patients were imaged for a minimum of 7 treatment days. During each treatment day, an average of 8 to 9 images per field were acquired (dose rate of 400 MU/minute). We developed automated image analysis software to quantitatively analyze 2,931 images (encompassing 720 measurements). Standard deviations ($\sigma$) of intrafractional (breathing motion) and intefractional (setup uncertainty) errors were calculated. The PTV margin to include the clinical target volume (CTV) with 95% confidence level was calculated as $2\;(1.96\;{\sigma})$. To compensate for intra-fractional error (mainly due to breathing motion) the required PTV margin ranged from 2 mm to 4 mm. However, PTV margins compensating for intefractional error ranged from 7 mm to 31 mm. The total average error observed for 12 patients was 17 mm. The intefractional setup error ranged from 2 to 15 times larger than intrafractional errors associated with breathing motion. Prior to 3-D conformal radiation treatment or IMRT breast treatment, the magnitude of setup errors must be measured and properly incorporated into the PTV. To reduce large PTVs for breast IMRT or 3-D CRT, an image-guided system would be extremely valuable, if not required. EPID systems should incorporate automated analysis software as described in this report to process and take advantage of the large numbers of EPID images available for error analysis which will help Individual clinics arrive at an appropriate PTV for their practice. Such systems can also provide valuable patient monitoring information with minimal effort.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.247-256
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• 2014

Purpose : To assess target motion during radiotherapy by quantifying daily setup errors and inter-fractional and intra-fractional movements of pancreatic fiducials. Materials and Methods : Eleven patients were treated via stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with volumetric modulated arc therapy. Bony setup errors were calculated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Inter-fractional and intrafractional fiducial (seed) motion was determined via cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) projections and orthogonal fluoroscopy. Results : Using an off-line correction protocol, setup errors were 0.0 (-1.7-4.0), 0.3 (-0.5-3.0), and 0.0 (-4.1-6.6) mm for the left-right, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior directions respectively. Random inter-fractional setup errors in the mean fiducial positions were -0.1, -1.1, and -2.3 mm respectively. Intra-fractional fiducial margins were 9.9, 7.8, and 12.5 mm, respectively. Conclusion : Online inter-fractional and intra-fractional corrections based on daily kV images and CBCT expedites SBRT of pancreatic cancer. Importantly, inter-fractional and intra-fractional motion needs to be measured regularly during treatment of pancreatic cancer to account for variations in patient respiration.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.208-214
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of low magnetic field on dose distribution in the partial-breast irradiation (PBI). Eleven patients with an invasive early-stage breast carcinoma were treated prospectively with PBI using 38.5 Gy delivered in 10 fractions using the $ViewRay^{(R)}$ system. For each of the treatment plans, dose distribution was calculated with magnetic field and without magnetic field, and the difference between dose and volume for each organ were evaluated. For planning target volume (PTV), the analysis included the point minimum ($D_{min}$), maximum, mean dose ($D_{mean}$) and volume receiving at least 90% ($V_{90%}$), 95% ($V_{95%}$) and 107% ($V_{107%}$) of the prescribed dose, respectively. For organs at risk (OARs), the ipsilateral lung was analyzed with $D_{mean}$ and the volume receiving 20 Gy ($V_{20\;Gy}$), and the contralateral lung was analyzed with only $D_{mean}$. The heart was analyzed with $D_{mean}$, $D_{max}$, and $V_{20\;Gy}$, and both inner and outer shells were analyzed with the point $D_{min}$, $D_{max}$ and $D_{mean}$, respectively. For PTV, the effect of low magnetic field on dose distribution showed a difference of up to 2% for volume change and 4 Gy for dose. In OARs analysis, the significant effect of the magnetic field was not observed. Despite small deviation values, the average difference of mean dose values showed significant difference (p<0.001), but there was no difference of point minimum dose values in both sehll structures. The largest deviation for the average difference of $D_{max}$ in the outer shell structure was $5.0{\pm}10.5Gy$ (p=0.148). The effect of low magnetic field of 0.35 T on dose deposition by a Co-60 beam was not significantly observed within the body for PBI IMRT plans. The dose deposition was only appreciable outside the body, where a dose build-up due to contaminated electrons generated in the treatment head and scattered electrons formed near the body surface.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2008

Purpose: Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were found to reduce the incidence of acute and late rectal toxicity compared with conventional radiation therapy (RT), although acute and late urinary toxicities were not reduced significantly. Acute urinary toxicity, even at a low-grade, not only has an impact on a patient's quality of life, but also can be used as a predictor for chronic urinary toxicity. With bladder filling, part of the bladder moves away from the radiation field, resulting in a small irradiated bladder volume; hence, urinary toxicity can be decreased. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of bladder volume on acute urinary toxicity during RT in patients with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Forty two patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were treated by 3DCRT and of these, 21 patients made up a control group treated without any instruction to control the bladder volume. The remaining 21 patients in the experimental group were treated with a full bladder after drinking 450 mL of water an hour before treatment. We measured the bladder volume by CT and ultrasound at simulation to validate the accuracy of ultrasound. During the treatment period, we measured bladder volume weekly by ultrasound, for the experimental group, to evaluate the variation of the bladder volume. Results: A significant correlation between the bladder volume measured by CT and ultrasound was observed. The bladder volume in the experimental group varied with each patient despite drinking the same amount of water. Although weekly variations of the bladder volume were very high, larger initial CT volumes were associated with larger mean weekly bladder volumes. The mean bladder volume was $299{\pm}155\;mL$ in the experimental group, as opposed to $187{\pm}155\;mL$ in the control group. Patients in experimental group experienced less acute urinary toxicities than in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. A trend of reduced toxicity was observed with the increase of CT bladder volume. In patients with bladder volumes greater than 150 mL at simulation, toxicity rates of all grades were significantly lower than in patients with bladder volume less than 150 mL. Also, patients with a mean bladder volume larger than 100 mL during treatment showed a slightly reduced Grade 1 urinary toxicity rate compared to patients with a mean bladder volume smaller than 100 mL. Conclusion: Despite the large variability in bladder volume during the treatment period, treating patients with a full bladder reduced acute urinary toxicities in patients with prostate cancer. We recommend that patients with prostate cancer undergo treatment with a full bladder.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.393-399
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• 2017

In this paper, we compared the Radiation treatment plan of rectal cancer on 3D-conformal Radiation Therapy, Tomotherapy and Linac Based IMRT using treatment planning system and to find the optimal treatment technique. The results of the comparison of treatments are as follows. In tumor tissue absorption dose more than 95% of the dose prescription dose and normal tissues(bladder, small bowel, fumer bone head) was NOT Normal tissue complication rate(V40, V30, V20, V10) but, The most effective treatment(dose distribution) for the three treatments was tomotherapy based IMRT. The worst was 3D-CRT. If this study is applied to patients under their health status and physical environment, patient's prognosis and quality of life will improve.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2016

In this study, we evaluate the effect of respiration on the dose distribution in patient target volume (PTV) during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and research methods to reduce this impact. The dose distributions, homogeneity index (HI), coverage index (CVI), and conformity index of the PTV, which is calculated from the dose-volume histogram (DVH), are compared between the maximum intensity projection (MIP) image-based plan and other images at respiration phases of 30%, 60% and 90%. In addition, the reducing effect of complication caused by patient respiration is estimated in the case of a bolus and the expended PTV on the skin. The HI is increased by approximately twice, and the CVI is relatively decreased without the bolus at other respiration phases. With the bolus and expended PTV, the change in the dose distribution of the PTV is relatively small with patient respiration. Therefore, the usage of the bolus and expended PTV can be considered as one of the methods to improve the accuracy of IMRT in the treatment of breast cancer patients with respiratory motion.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2012

The pencil beam convolution (PBC) algorithms in radiation treatment planning system have been widely used to calculate the radiation dose. A new photon dose calculation algorithm, referred to as the anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA), was released for use by the Varian medical system. The aim of this paper was to investigate the difference in dose calculation between the AAA and PBC algorithm using the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan for lung cancer cases that were inhomogeneous in the low density. We quantitatively analyzed the differences in dose using the eclipse planning system (Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA) and I'mRT matirxx (IBA, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) equipment to compare the gamma evaluation. 11 patients with lung cancer at various sites were used in this study. We also used the TLD-100 (LiF) to measure the differences in dose between the calculated dose and measured dose in the Alderson Rando phantom. The maximum, mean, minimum dose for the normal tissue did not change significantly. But the volume of the PTV covered by the 95% isodose curve was decreased by 6% in the lung due to the difference in the algorithms. The difference dose between the calculated dose by the PBC algorithms and AAA algorithms and the measured dose with TLD-100 (LiF) in the Alderson Rando phantom was -4.6% and -2.7% respectively. Based on the results of this study, the treatment plan calculated using the AAA algorithms is more accurate in lung sites with a low density when compared to the treatment plan calculated using the PBC algorithms.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.193-204
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• 2010

Purpose: To analyze the treatment outcomes, complications, prognostic factors after a long-term follow-up of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: Between December 1981 and December 2006, 190 eligible patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated at our department with a curative intent. Of these patients, 103 were treated with RT alone and 87 patients received CCRT. The median age was 49 years (range, 8~78 years). The distributions of clinical stage according to the AJCC 6th edition included I: 7 (3.6%), IIA: 8 (4.2%), IIB: 33 (17.4%), III: 82 (43.2%), IVA: 31 (16.3%), IVB: 29 (15.3%). The accumulated radiation doses to the primary tumor ranged from 66.6~87.0 Gy (median, 72 Gy). Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. Acute and late toxicities were assessed using the RTOG criteria. Results: A total of 96.8% (184/190) of patients completed the planned treatment. With a mean follow-up of 73 months (range, 2~278 months; median, 52 months), 93 (48.9%) patients had relapses that were local 44 (23.2%), nodal 13 (6.8%), or distant 49 (25.8%). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 55.6% and 44.5%, 54.8% and 51.3%, in addition to 65.3% and 57.4%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that CCRT, age, gender, and stage were significant prognostic factors for OS. The CCRT and gender were independent prognostic factors for both DFS and DSS. There was no grade 4 or 5 acute toxicity, but grade 3 mucositis and hematologic toxicity were present in 42 patients (22.1%) and 18 patients (9.5%), respectively. During follow-up, grade 3 hearing loss in 9 patients and trismus in 6 patients were reported. Conclusion: The results of our study were in accordance with findings of previous studies and we confirmed that CCRT, low stage, female gender, and young age were related to improvement in OS. However, there are limitations in the locoregional control that can be achieved by CCRT with 20 conventional radiation therapy. This observation has led to further studies on clarifying the efficacy of concurrent chemotherapy by intensity modulated radiation therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2018

Purpose : The aims of this study were to compare and assess the effectiveness of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy(VMAT) using jaw tracking(JT) and fixed jaw(FJ) in radiation therapy of multiple brain metastasis. Methode and material : Among the patients with Multiple Brain Metastasis treated with jaw tracking, 10 patients with more than 6 tumors and with the size of radiation field $14{\times}14cm^2$ or more were included. Each Treatment plans with jaw tracking(JT) and fixed jaw(FJ) was established with Eclipse (Ver. 13.6 Varian, USA). Gamma Index (3 mm, 3 % confidence interval - 95 %) and maximum dose difference were measured with an electronic portal imaging device(EPID). The $D_{max}$ and $D_{mean}$ of Organ At Risk(OAR) were assessed and compared, and the Conformity Index(CI) and Homogeneity Index(HI) were evaluated. Result : Evaluating jaw tracking(JT) and fixed jaw(FJ) outcomes, in all cases, Gamma Index met the permissible standard of 3 mm, 3 % confidence intervals of 95 %. The maximum dose difference value from the areas with leaf end transmission was measured at a maximum of 98.4 % and an average of 43.6 % in clockwise(CW), and 67.9 % and 41.0 % for each in Counter-Clockwise(CCW). With jaw tracking, the maximum value of $D_{max}$ for each normal organ in OAR decreased in 15.36 %~74.59 % with the average value decreasing in 2.84 %~39.80 %. The maximum value of $D_{mean}$ in OAR decreased in 27.90 %~65.23 %, with the average value decreasing in 7.70 %~41.71 %. No change has been found in Conformity Index and Homogeneity Index values. Conclusion : When Jaw tracking is used in treating patients with multiple brain metastasis with VMAT, the unnecessary exposure due to leakage and transmission of radiation in unspecified areas was reduced, without affecting the dose distribution of the planning target volume(PTV), and the availability of radiation therapy with lower doses in normal organs is expected.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2008

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is believed to be one of the best radiation treatment techniques. IMRT is able to deliver fatal doses of radiation to the tumor region with minimal exposure of critical organs. It is essential to have a comprehensive quality assurance program to assure precision and accuracy in treatment, due to the character of IMRT. We applied quality assurance technique to the Eclipse treatment planning system and sought to determine its effectiveness in patient treatment planning. An acrylic phantom, film, and an ionization chamber were used in this study.