• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 1993

From October 1989 to March 1992, ten patients diagnosed as primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma were treated with radiation therapy at Asan Medical Center. To obtain pathologic diagnosis, five patients had stereotactic biopsy and the others underwent craniotomy & tumor removal. According to the classification by International Working Formulation, seven of 10 patients showed diffuse large cell types and the remaining 3 had diffuse mixed cell types. Computed tomographic scans of the brain disclosed solitary (6 cases) or multiple (4 cases) intracranial lesions. All patients received 4000 cGy/20 fx to the whole brain followed by an additional 2000 cGy/10 fx boost to the primary lesion. Six patients with initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF involvement were treated with whole brain irradiation and intrathecal Methotrexate (IT-MTX) chemotherapy. One of them received an additional spinal irradiation after 3 cycles of IT-MTX chemotherapy because of MTX induced arachnoiditis. One patient received 3 cycles of systemic chemotherapy prior to rodiation therapy and one received 5 cycles of salvage chemotherapy for recurrence. With a median follow up time of 8 months, all patients were followed from 7 to 26 months. Radiologically seven patients showed complete remission and the remaining three showed partial remission at one month after radiotherapy. The 1 and 2 year survival rate was $86{\%}\;and\;69{\%}$ respectively. Until now, two patients expired at 7 and 14 months. These patients developed extensive CSF seeding followed by local failure. Considering initial good response to radiation therapy and low incidence of extraneural dissemination in primary CNS lymphoma, we propose to increase total tumor dose to the primary lesion by hyperfractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. For the patients with CSF involvement at diagnosis, we propose craniospinal irradiation with IT MTX chemotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 1991

A retrospective study of 53 patients suffering from non-small cell carcinoma of lung with brain metastases is presented. They were treated in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Kyung Hee University Hospital from 1983 to 1990. There were 37 male and 10 female patients. The age range was 39 to 85 years (median=59). The most common histologic cell type of tumor was adenocarcinoma ($50.9\%$), followed by squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. All patients were treated with whole-brain photon irradiation (WBI) using lateral opposing fields. The overall median survival time was 5 months. Age, sex, histologic type, and initial performance status were not prognostically important. The most important prognostic factors were the response to radiotherapy and the presence of brain metastases alone. increasing the dose of radiotherapy to the main bulk of tumor may improve the symptom-free survival or overall survival in patients who present with brain metastases as the sole site of extrathoracic disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 1989

CNS prophylaxis with 18 or 24 Gy cranial irradiation plus intrathecal methotrexate was given to 134 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who had got bone marrow remission (M1) after remission induction chemotherapy from August 1979 to December 1986. The rate of initial total CNS relapse was 14.2% (19/134), the rate of isolated CNS relapse was 5.2% (7/134), and the rate of CNS relapse concomittantly combined with bone marrow relapse or testicular relapse was 9% (12/134). Male sex or older age was accociated with higher CNS relapes and the initial peripheral leukocyte count over 50,000/ul had higher relapse rate. Relapse with radiation dose of 18Gy was somewhat lower than that with 24Gy. Within 4 years after CNS prophylaxis occurred 89% of the total CNS relapses, 100% of the isolated CNS relapses, and 83% of the combined CNS relapses. Adjusted to exposed cases to risk of CNS relapse, the total CNS relapse rate was 11.9% during maintenance chemotherapy and 4.9% after maintenance chemotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 1997

Purpose : Intracranial germinoma is the most radiocurable tumor of theprimary intracranial neoplasm. But, the optimum radiation dose and target volume remain controversial In this retrospective study, we analysed the spreading pattern at presentation and the pattern of the failure and survival of intracranial germinoma, Materials and Methods : From 1989 to 1996, 23 Patients were treated for intracranial germinoma at Department of Radiation Oncology, Twenty-one Patients were treated at their initial Presentation and 2 Patients were treated for recurrent disease. Six patients had multiple tumor masses on MRI and 7patients had ventricular seeding on MRI. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid cytology was done in 15 patients and 3 out of 15 patients had positive cerebrospinal cytology. In tumor marker study of $\alpha-FP\;and\;\beta-hCG$, 6 patients had mildly elevated $\beta-hCG$ in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. Twentyone Patients were treated with whole craniospinal axis irradiation and 2 Patients were given whole ventricular radiation therapy. The total dose was ranged between 4500cGy and 5600cGy to primary tumor site (median 5580cGy) Dose to the entire ventricular system ranged from 1980cGy to 3960 cGy (median 2700cGy) and dose to the spinal axis ranged from 2160cGy to 3900cGy (median 2700cGy) Results : Of 23 patients, 21 Patients are alive without evidence of diseasefor median 4 years follow-up. One Patient who had markedly elevated $\alpha-FP\;and\;\beta-hCG$, suffered from Persistent disease after radiation therapy and received 2 cycles of chemotherapy. She died 9 months after chemotherapy One patient who developed ventricular seeding after gamma-knife was treated with whole craniospinal irradiation, he died after 1 year due to probably brain necrosis. The hematologic toxicity of 3 or 4 grade were seen in 7 patients and patient's endocrinologic dysfunction was not deteriorated after radiation therapy. One patient had been treated with growth hormone replacement due to short stature. Conclusions : This retrospective study has confirmed the excellent result of radiation therapy in intracranial germinoma. The complication rate during or after radiation therapy is considered within acceptable range. ft is necessary to further investigate the optimal dose and treatment volume of radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of intracranial germinoma should be further investigated.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 1996

Purpose : This report is the result f retrospective analysis for children who received prophylactic cranial irradiation combined with intrathecal chemotherapy. Materials and Methods : Ninety children with ALL who had got bone marrow remission after induction chemotherapy received PCI. All but 3 children were treated with a dose of 1800 cGy as a standard regimen. While the PCI was given, all patients received intrathecal chemotherapy. Results : Nine of 90 patients experienced CNS relapse during the duration of follow-up ranged from 36 to 96 months (median 60 months). Three children experienced BM relapse prior to CNS relapse. Therefore, CNS relapse rate as the first adverse event was $6.7\%$. Median time interval of CNS relapse was 16 months from the first day of hematologic complete remission. Eighty-nine percent of patients who had CNS relapse were associated with hematologic relapse. and $78\%$ of CNS relpase occurred during maintenance chemotherapy (on-therapy relapse). The CNS RFS at 2 and 5 years are $68\%$ and $42\%$, respectively with median of 43 months. The Prognostic factors affecting CNS RFS are initial WBC count (cut-off point of 50,000/ul), FAB subtype and CALGB risk criteria. The DFS at 2 and 5 years are 61 and $39\%$, respectively with median of 34 months. The prognostic factors affecting DFS are initial WBC count (cut-off point of 50,000/ul), FAB subtype, POG and CALGB risk criteria. Conclusions : In our study, $6.7\%$ of CNS relapse rate as a first adverse event was comparable with other studies. Various risk criteria was based on age at diagnosis and initial WBC count such as POG and CALGB criteria, had prognostic significance for CNS RFS and DFS. Prospective randomized trial according to prognostic subgroup based on risk criteria and systematic study about neuropsychologic function for long term survivors, are essential to determine the most effective and least toxic form of CNS prophylaxis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the Possibility of decreasing the radiation dose and to determine optimum treatment volume in intracranial germinomas. Materials and Methods : Forty five patients with pathologically-verified or presumed germinomas by a radiosensitivity test who had been treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone between 1971 and 1992 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was 17.2 years with 68.9$\%$ of the patients being between the ages of 10$\~$20. The male and female ratio was 2.2:1. The locations of the primary tumors were at the pineal regions in 14 patients; the suprasellar regions in 12 patients; and multiple sites in 12 patients. Treatment volumes varied from a small local field (10) to the whole brain (7) or entire neuroaxis irradiation(28). All the cases after 1982 received craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Radiation doses were 41-59 Gy (median 48.5 Gy) to the primary tumor site and 19.5$\~$36 Gy (median 24 Gy) to the neuroaxis. The median follow-up period was 82 months with a range of 2$\~$260 months. Results : All the patients showed complete response after RT. Four patients sufferred from recurrence 14, 65, 76, and 170 months after RT, respectively, and two patients died with intercurrent disease. One of four recurrent cases was salvaged by re-irradiation. Therefore, a 5 and 10 year overall suNival was 95.3$\%$ and 84.7 $\%$ respectively. Five and ten year disease-free survival was 97.6 $\%$ and 88.8 $\%$ respectively. All the recurrences occurred in the patients who received local RT (3/10) or whole brain RT (1/7) with a radiation dose of 48-50 Gy. None of the patients who received CSI suffered recurrence. There was no recurrence among the 15 patients who received $\leq$45 Gy to the primary site and the 18 patients who received $\leq$24 Gy (6 patients received 19.5 Gy) to the neuroaxis. Conclusion : CSI is recommended for the treatment of intracranial germinomas. The radiation dose can be safely decreased to $\leq$45 Gy on a primay tumor site and 19.5 Gy on the spine.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of changes in beam arrangement and arc counts on dosimetric factors in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) inverse radiation therapy planning for hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation therapy (HA-WBRT) by using the Elekta Monaco radiation therapy planning system (RTPs). For coplanar VMAT, both the arc per beam (APB) method and the beam determined arc(BDA) method, which is determined by the number of beams, were applied. For non-coplanar VMAT, the BDA method was utilized, and a total of 9 treatment plans were established by varying the arc counts. All radiation therapy plans met the radiation oncology group (RTOG) 0933 protocol standards, and 14 dosimetric factors were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the BDA-NC VMAT method demonstrated superior performance in terms of planning target volume (PTV) coverage and protection of normal organs, while APB-VMAT was advantageous in terms of hippocampal protection, monitor unit and delivery time. This study is expected to contribute to the efficient establishment of HA-WBRT plans considering the changes in beam arrangement and rotation arc numbers in Monaco RTPs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 1991

From February 1987 through July 1990, the seventeen cases of inoperable intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) were treated using 6 MV linear accelerator at the Division of Therapautic Radiology, Kang Nam 51. Mary's Hospital. Of seventeen cases, fourteen were male and three were female. Ages ranged from 10 to 51 years (median age of 25 years). The main symtoms were headache, epilepsy and hemiparesis in decreasing order of frequency. The middle cerebral artery is the most common origin of the feeding vessel $(41.2\%)$. Four were treated by conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CRT, thirteen were treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (RS). duration or follow-up in CRT and RS group were 4 to 43 months (median 33 months) and 3 to 12 months (median 13 months), respectively. When the response was assessed by radiologic follow-up study, two of four CRT group showed minimal response. Of thirteen cases of RS group, two $(15.4\%)$ showed complete response, five $(38\%)$ partial response, two $(15.4\%)$ minimal response and four $(30.7\%)$ no response by the same assessment. There was no statistical significance in terms of follow-up period (p=0.22), size of lesion (p=0.82) and treated dose (p=0.05). Further accumulation of experience is recommended with proper case selection and sufficient follow-up period.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the late effect(3 and 6 months) of cis-diarnrninedichlo-roplatinum(II)(cisplatin) on the radiation brain damage when the cisplatin was intraperitoneally infused immediately after whole brain irradiation in the rats. Materials and Methods : The histolopathological findings of the brain were examined in rat brains at 3 and 6 months after the treatment. The rats were irradiated(20 or 22.5 Gy, RT) or cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally(2,4, or 8mg/kg, CT) and in combined treatment group, cisplatin(2mg/kg) was injected immediately after irradiation(20 or 22.5 Gr). Histopathological examination was done mostly in irradiation or cisplatin alone groups, because the rats in combined group died during experimental period except 2 rats. Results : The rats treated with cisplatin showed marked epithelial vacuolation with perivascular edema and vascular dilatation in choroid plexus at 3 months as well as multifocal necrosis involving fimbria and cerebellar hemispheres at 3 and 6 months. The changes were more prominent in rats with 2mg/kg injection compared to rats with 8mg/kg injection. The rats with RT and combined CT and RT showed characteristic delayed irradiation effects such as focal coagulation necrosis and vascular changes, which were more marked than previous reports Prominent perivascular and leptomenin-geal astrocytic Proliferation was well documented by anti-GFAP antibody. Cisplatin treatment did not enhance the effect of radiation-induced changes of blood vessels and astrocytic proliferation. Conclusion : The focal necrosis was the most consistently noted finding in this study, it suggested the possibility to use this as an evaluation factor for combined effects of RT and cisplatin.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.140-144
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to retrospectively analyze patient survival by weighting according to the primary tumor oncotype in 160 patients with brain metastasis and who underwent whole brain radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 metastatic brain cancer patients who were treated with whole brain radiotherapy of 30 Gy between 2002 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary tumor oncotype of 20 patients was breast cancer, and that of 103 patients was lung cancer. Except for 18 patients with leptomeningeal seeding, a total of 142 patients were analyzed according to the prognostic factors and the Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA) class. Weighted Partitioning Analysis (WPA), with the weighting being done according to the primary tumor oncotype, was performed and the results were correlated with survival and then compared with the RPA Class. Results: The median survival of the patients in RPA Class I (8 patients) was 20.0 months, that for Class II (76 patients) was 10.0 months and that for Class III (58 patients) was 3.0 months (p<0.003). The median survival of patients in WPA Class I (3 patients) was 36 months, that for the patients in Class II (9 patients) was 23.7 months, that for the patients in Class III (70 patients) was 10.9 months and that for the patients in Class IV (60 patients) was 8.6 months (p<0.001). The WPA Class might have more accuracy in assessing survival, and it may be superior to the RPA Class for assessing survival. Conclusion: A new prognostic index, the WPA Class, has more prognostic value than the RPA Class for the treatment of patients with metastatic brain cancer. This WPA Class may be useful to guide the appropriate treatment of metastatic brain lesions.