• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2002

We invented the newly developed Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy(F.S.R.T) system using combined techniques of couch mounting and pedestal mounting system. Head fixation frame consists of a milled alluminium alloy(duralumin) and is placed to the couch. This frame immobilized patient head using the dental bite, 3.2 mm frontal and occipital thermoplastic mask. To evaluate the coordinate of target isocenter, Brown-Revert-Walls C.T localizer can be attached to this frame. And also, we developed the frame mounting system by developing the modification of pedestal mounting system. This system is fixed to couch floor and can be used to evaluate the isocenteric accuracy of gantry, couch and collimator in Q.A procedure. In order to measure the relocation accuracy, the acrylic phantom and the accurate pointers have been made. The repositioning of the targets in the phantom were estimated by comparing C.T coordinates and E.C.L portal films taken with anterior-posterior and right-left direction. From the results of experiments, the average distance errors between the target isocenter and its mean position were 0.71$\pm$0.19 for lateral, 0.45$\pm$0.15 for inferior-superior, 0.63$\pm$0.18 for anterior-posterior. And the maximum distance error was less than 1.3 mm. The new head fixation frame and frame mounting system were non-invasive, accurately relocatable, easy to use, very light and well tolerable by the results of phantom tests. The major advantage of using this frame mounting system is complete access to any point in the Patients cranium especially posterior direction

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1997

We developed PC-based planning system for linear accelerator based stereotactic radiosurgery. The system was developed under Windows 95 on Pentium Pro$\^$(R) 200 ㎒ IBM PC with 128 MB RAM. It was programed using IDL$\^$(R)/ of Research Systems, Inc. as a programing tool. CT image data obtained with BRW stereotactic frame is transferred to PC through magnetoptical disk. As loading the image, the system automatically recognizes the location of rods and establishes stereotactic coordinates. It accurately calculates and corrects the coordinates, degree of tilting, and magnification rate of axial images. After the coordinates is defined we can delineate and edit the contours of target and organs of interest on axial images. Upon delineating contours of target, isocenter is determined automatically and we can set up the beam configuration for radiosurgery. The system provides beam's eye view and room's eye view for efficient confuguring of beams. The system calculates dose distribution 3-dimensionally. It takes 1 to 2 minutes to calculate dose distribution for 5 arcs. We can verify the dose distribution on serial axial images. We can analyze the dose distribution quantitatively by evaluation of dose-volume histogram of target and organ of interest. This system, PC-based radiosurgery planning system, includes the basic features for radiosurgery planning and calculates dose distribution within reasonable time for clinical application.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the role of LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of meningiomas, we reviewed clinical response, image response, neurological deficits for patients treated at our institution. Methods and materials : Between February 1995 and December 1999, twenty-six patients were treated with SRS. Seven patients had undergone prior resection. Nineteen patients received SRS as the initial treatment. There were 7 male and 19 female patients. The median age was 51 years (range, $14\~67\;years$). At least one clinical symptom presented at the time of SRS in 17 patients and cranial neuropathy was seen in 7 patients. The median tumor volume was $4.7\;cm^3\;(range,\;0.7\~16.5\;m^3)$. The mean marginal dose was 15 Gy (range, $10\~20\;Gy$), delivered to the $80\%$ isodose surface (range, $46\~90\%$). The median clinical and imaging follow-up periods were 27 months (range, 1-71 months) and 25 months (range, $1\~52\;months$), respectively. Results : Of 14 patients who had clinical follow-up of one year or longer, thirteen patients $(93\%)$ were improved clinically at follow-up examination. Clinical symptom worsened in one patient at 4 months after SRS as a result of intratumoral edema, who underwent surgical resection at 7 months. OF 14 patients who had radiologic follow-up of one year or longer, tumor volume decreased in 7 patients $(50\%)$ at a median of 11 months (range, $6\~25\;months$), remained stable in 6 patients $(43\%)$, and increased in one patient $(7\%)$, who underwent surgical resection at 44 months. New radiation-induced neurological deficits developed in six patients $(23\%)$. Five patients $(19\%)$ had transient neurological deficits, completely resolved by conservative treatment including steroid therapy. Radiation-induced brain necrosis developed in one patient $(3.8\%)$ at 9 months after SRS who followed by surgical resection of tumor and necrotic tissue. Conclusions : LINAC-based SRS proves to be an effective and safe management strategy for small to moderate sized meningiomas, inoperable, residual, and recurrent, but long-term follow-up will be necessary to fully evaluate its efficacy. To reduce the radiation-induced neurological deficit for large size meningioma and/or in the proximity of critical and neural structure, more delicate treatment planning and optimal decision of radiation dose will be necessary.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with >4 metastases to the brain. Materials and Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2006, 68 patients with $\geq$4 multiple brain metastases were included and reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-nine patients received SRS and 39 patients received whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Patients with small cell lung cancers and melanomas were excluded. The primary lesions were non-small cell lung cancer (69.0%) and breast cancer (13.8%) in the SRS group and non-small cell lung cancer (64.1%), breast cancer (15.4%), colorectal cancer (12.8%), esophageal cancer (5.1%) in the WBRT group. SRS involved gamma-knife radiosurgery and delivered 10~20 Gy (median, 16 Gy) in a single fraction with a 50% marginal dose. WBRT was delivered daily in 3 Gy fractions, for a total of 30 Gy. After completion of treatment, a follow-up brain MRI or a contrast-enhanced brain CT was reviewed. The overall survival and intracranial progression-free survival were compared in each group. Results: The median follow-up period was 5 months (range, 2~19 months) in the SRS group and 6 months (range, 4~23 months) in the WBRT group. The mean number of metastatic lesions in the SRS and WBRT groups was 6 and 5, respectively. The intracranial progression-free survival and overall survival in the SRS group was 5.1 and 5.6 months, respectively, in comparison to 6.1 and 7.2 months, respectively, in the WBRT group. Conclusion: SRS was less effective than WBRT in the treatment of patients with >4 metastases to the brain.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2001

Purpose : To establish the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of patients with angiographically occult vascular malformation (AOVM). Materials and Methods : Eleven patients (12 lesions) with AOVM were treated with linear accelerator-based SRS between February 1995 and December 1999. A magnetic resonance imaging of each patients showed well-circumscribed vascular lesion with reticulated core of heterogeneous signal intensity and peripheral rim of low signal intensity. SRS were peformed with the median peripheral dose of 16 Gy (range 13~25). A single isocenter was used with median collimator size of 14 mm (range 8~20) diameter. Results : With a median follow-up period of 42 months (range 12~56), rebleeding occurred in 3 AOVMS at 5, 6 and 12 months after SRS but no further bleeding did. Two patients experienced radiation-induced necrosis associated with permanent neurologic deficit and one patient showed transient edema of increased 72 signal intensity. Conclusion : SRS may be effective for the prevention of rebleeding in AOVM located in surgically inaccessible region of the brain. Careful consideration should be needed in the decision of case selection and dose prescription because the incidence of radiation-induced complications is too high to be accepted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a GafChromic film applied to stereotactic radiosurgery with a linear accelerator could provide information on the value for acceptance testing and quality control on the absolute dose and relative dose measurements and/or calculation of treatment planning system. Materials and methods: A spherical acrylic phantom, simulating a patient's head, was constructed from three points. The absolute and relative dose distributions could be measured by inserting a GafChromic film into the phantom. We tested the use of a calibrated GafChromic film (MD-55-2, Nuclear Associate, USA) for measuring the optical density. These measurements were achieved by irradiating the films with a dose of 0-112 Gy employing 6 MV photon. To verify the accuracy of the prescribed dose delivery to a target isocenter using a five arc beams (irradiated in 3 Gy per one beam) setup, calculated by the Linapel planning system the absolute dose and relative dose distribution using a GafChromic film were measured. All the irradiated films were digitized with a Lumiscan 75 laser digitizer and processed with the RIT113 film dosimetry system. Results: We verified the linearity of the Optical Density of a MD-55-2 GafChromic film, and measured the depth dose profile of the beam. The absolute dose delivered to the target was close to the prescribed dose of Linapel within an accuracy for the GafChromic film dosimetry (of $\pm$3$\%$), with a measurement uncertainty of $\pm$1 mm for the 50$\~$90$\%$ isodose lines. Conclusion: Our results have shown that the absolute dose and relative dose distribution curves obtained from a GafChromic film can provide information on the value for acceptance. To conclude the GafChromic flim is a convenient and useful dosimetry tool for linac based radiosurgery.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate efficacy and complication of stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame. Methods and Materials :From December 1997 to June 1999, 11 patients with primary and metastatic tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame(Precision TherapyTu). Three patients were treated with primary hepatoma and seven with metastatic tumor from liver, lung, breast, trachea and one with arteriovenous malformation on neck. We used vacuum pillow for immobilization and made skin marker on sternum and tibia area with chest marker and leg marker. Diaphragm control was used for reducing movement by respiration. CT-simulation and treatment planning were peformed. Set-up error was checked by CT-Simulator before each treatment. Dose were calculated on the 80$\~$90$\%$ isodose of isocenter dose and given consecutive 3 fractions for total dose of 30 Gy (10 Gy/fraction). Results :Median follow-up was 12 months. One patient (9$\%$) showed complete response and four Patients (36$\%$) showed partial response and others showed stable disease. Planning target volumes (PTV) ranged from 3 to 111 cc (mean 18.4 n). Set-up error was within 5 mm in all directions (X, Y, Z axis). There was no complication in all patients. Conclusion :In Primary and metastatic tumors, stereotactic body frame is very safe, accurate and effective treatment modality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2006

Puroose: In order to find out whether stereotactic radiation therapy (RT) using CyberKnife (CK) could improve survival rate and lower acute toxicity compared to conventional RT. Materials and Methods: From April 2003 through April 2004, 19 patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ${\leq}3$ and locally advanced pancreas cancer without distant metastasis, evaluated by CT or PET/CT, were included. We administered stereotactic RT consisting of either 33 Gy, 36 Gy or 39 Gy in 3 fractions to 6, 4 and 9 patients, respectively, in an effort to increase the radiation dose step by step, and analyzed the survival rate and gastrointestinal toxicities by the acute radiation morbidity criteria of Radiation Therapeutic Oncology Group (RTOG). Prognostic factors of age, sex, ECOG performance score, chemotherapy, bypass surgery, radiation dose, CA 19-9, planning target volume (PTV), and adjacent organ and vessel invasion on CT scan were evaluated by Log Rank test. Results: The median survival time was 11 months with 1-year survival rate of 36.8%. During follow-up period (range $3{\sim}20$ months, median 10 months), no significant gastrointestinal acute toxicity (RTOG grade 3) was observed. In univariate analysis, age, sex, ECOG performance score, chemotherapy, bypass surgery, radiation dose, CA 19-9 level, and adjacent organ and vessel invasion did not show any significant changes of survival rate, however, patients with PTV (80 cc showed more favorable survival rate than those with PTV>80 cc (p-value<0.05). In multivariate analysis, age younger than 65 years and PTV>80 cc showed better survival rate. Conclusion: In terms of survival, the efficacy of stereotactic radiation therapy using CK was found to be superior or similar to other recent studies achieved with conventional RT with intensive chemotherapy, high dose conformal RT, intraoperative RT (IORT), or intensity modulated RT (IMRT). Furthermore, severe toxicity was not observed. Short treatment time in relation to the short life expectancy gave patients more convenience and, finally, quality of life would be increased. Consequently, this could be regarded as an effective novel treatment modality for locally advanced, unresectable pancreas cancer. PTV would be a helpful prognostic factor for CK.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1991

Radiosurgery treatment in the brain requires detailed information on three-dimensional dose distribution. A three-dimensional treatment planning is a prerequisite for treatment plan optimization. It must cover 3-D methods for representing the patient, the dose distributions, and beam settings. Three-dimensional dose models for non-coplanar moving arcs were developed using measured single beam data and efficient 3-D dose algorithms for circular fields. The implementation of three dimensional dose algorithms with stereotactic radiosurgery and the application of the algorithms to several cases are discussed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.238-248
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• 2010

Purpose: To compare the dose distributions between three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) radiation treatment plans calculated by Ray-tracing or the Monte Carlo algorithm, and to highlight the difference of dose calculation between two algorithms for lung heterogeneity correction in lung cancers. Materials and Methods: Prospectively gated 4D CTs in seven patients were obtained with a Brilliance CT64-Channel scanner along with a respiratory bellows gating device. After 4D treatment planning with the Ray Tracing algorithm in Multiplan 3.5.1, a CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy planning system, 3D Ray Tracing, 3D and 4D Monte Carlo dose calculations were performed under the same beam conditions (same number, directions, monitor units of beams). The 3D plan was performed in a primary CT image setting corresponding to middle phase expiration (50%). Relative dose coverage, D95 of gross tumor volume and planning target volume, maximum doses of tumor, and the spinal cord were compared for each plan, taking into consideration the tumor location. Results: According to the Monte Carlo calculations, mean tumor volume coverage of the 4D plans was 4.4% higher than the 3D plans when tumors were located in the lower lobes of the lung, but were 4.6% lower when tumors were located in the upper lobes of the lung. Similarly, the D95 of 4D plans was 4.8% higher than 3D plans when tumors were located in the lower lobes of lung, but was 1.7% lower when tumors were located in the upper lobes of lung. This tendency was also observed at the maximum dose of the spinal cord. Lastly, a 30% reduction in the PTV volume coverage was observed for the Monte Carlo calculation compared with the Ray-tracing calculation. Conclusion: 3D and 4D robotic radiotherapy treatment plans for lung cancers were compared according to a dosimetric viewpoint for a tumor and the spinal cord. The difference of tumor dose distributions between 3D and 4D treatment plans was only significant when large tumor movement and deformation was suspected. Therefore, 4D treatment planning is only necessary for large tumor motion and deformation. However, a Monte Carlo calculation is always necessary, independent of tumor motion in the lung.