• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

Purpose: Investigation of the clinical use of tangential fields technique using TOMO direct in comparison to conventional LINAC based radiation therapy after breast partial mastectomy. Materials and Methods: Treatment plans were created for 3 left-sided breast cancer patients who had radiation therapy after breast partial mastectomy by using wedged tangential fields technique, field in field technique (FIF), TOMO Direct, TOMO Direct intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) under the normalized prescription condition ($D_{90%}$: 50.4 Gy/28 fx within CTV). Dose volume histogram (DVH) and isodose curve were used to evaluate the dose to the clinical target volume (CTV), organ at risk (OAR). We compared and analyzed dosimetric parameters of CTV and OAR. Dosimetric parameters of CTV are $D_{99}$, $D_{95}$, Dose homogeneity index (DHI: $D_{10}/D_{90}$) and $V_{105}$, $V_{110}$. And dosimetric parameters of OAR are $V_{10}$, $V_{20}$, $V_{30}$, $V_{40}$ of the heart and $V_{10}$, $V_{20}$, $V_{30}$ of left lung. Results: Dosimetric results of CTV, the average value of $D_{99}$, $D_{95}$ were $47.7{\pm}1.1Gy$, $49.4{\pm}0.1Gy$ from wedged tangential fields technique (W) and FIF (F) were $47.1{\pm}0.6Gy$, $49.2{\pm}0.4Gy$. And it was $49.2{\pm}0.4$ vs. $48.6{\pm}0.8Gy$, $49.9{\pm}0.4$ vs. $49.5{\pm}0.3Gy$ Gy for the TOMO Direct (D) and TOMO Direct IMRT (I). The average value of dose homogeneity index was W: $1.1{\pm}0.02$, F: $1.07{\pm}0.02$, D: $1.03{\pm}0.001$, I: $1.05{\pm}0.02$. When we compared the average value of $V_{105}$, $V_{110}$ using each technique, it was the highest as $34.6{\pm}9.3%$, $7.5{\pm}7.9%$ for wedged tangential fields technique and the value dropped for FIF as $16.5{\pm}14.8%$, $2.1{\pm}3.5%$, TOMO direct IMRT as $7.5{\pm}8.3%$, $0.1{\pm}0.1%$ and the TOMO direct showed the lowest values for both as 0%. Dosimetric results of OAR was no significant difference among each technique. Conclusion: TOMO direct provides improved target dose homogeneity over wedged tangential field technique. It is no increase the amount of normal tissue volumes receiving low doses, as oppose to IMRT or Helical TOMO IMRT. Also, it simply performs treatment plan procedure than FIF. TOMO Direct is a clinical useful technique for breast cancer patients after partial mastectomy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2005

Purpose: To improve the management of a medical linear accelerator, the records of operational failures of a Varian CL2l00C over a ten year period were retrospectively analyzed. Materials and Methods: The failures were classified according to the involved functional subunits, with each class rated Into one of three levels depending on the operational conditions. The relationships between the failure rate and working ratio and between the failure rate and outside temperature were investigated. In addition, the average life time of the main part and the operating efficiency over the last 4 years were analyzed. Results: Among the recorded failures (total 587 failures), the most frequent failure was observed in the parts related with the collimation system, including the monitor chamber, which accounted for $20\%$ of all failures. With regard to the operational conditions, 2nd level of failures, which temporally interrupted treatments, were the most frequent. Third level of failures, which interrupted treatment for more than several hours, were mostly caused by the accelerating subunit. The number of failures was increased with number of treatments and operating time. The average life-times of the Klystron and Thyratron became shorter as the working ratio increased, and were 42 and $83\%$ of the expected values, respectively. The operating efficiency was maintained at $95\%$ or higher, but this value slightly decreased. There was no significant correlation between the number of failures and the outside temperature. Conclusion: The maintenance of detailed equipment problems and failures records over a long period of time can provide good knowledge of equipment function as well as the capability of predicting future failure. Wore rigorous equipment maintenance Is required for old medical linear accelerators for the advanced avoidance of serious failure and to improve the qualify of patient treatment.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2002

Purpose : This study evaluated the treatment outcomes, patterns of failure, and treatment related complications of primary lymphoma patients who received definitive radiation therapy. Materials and Methods : A retrospective analysis was undertaken for 31 patients with primary orbital lymphoma at the Asan Medical Center between February 1991 and April 2001. There were 18 males and 13 females with ages ranging from 3 to 73 years (median, 44 years). The involved sites were 9 conjunctivae, 12 eyelids and 10 other orbits. The histological types were 28 MALT lymphomas (low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type), 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 1 lymphoblastic lymphoma. The Ann Arbor stages were all IE $(100\%)$. Ann Arbor stage III or IV patients were excluded from this study, Bilateral orbital involvement occurred in 6 cases. Radiation therapy was given with one anterior port of high energy electrons $(6\~16\;MeV)$ for the lesions located at the anterior structures like the conjunctivae or eyelids. Lesions with a posterior extension or other orbital lesions were treated with 4 or 6 MeV photons with appropriately arranged portals. In particular, lens blocks composed of lead alloy were used in conjunctival or eyelid lesions. Twelve patients received chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 53 months. Results : The 5-year overall, cause-specific, and disease-free survival was $91\%,\;96\%,\;and\;80\%$, respectively. The complete response rate 6 months after radiation therapy was $100\%$. Local recurrences were observed in 2 patients at 16 and 18 months after completion of radiation treatment. They were salvaged with additional radiation therapy. Two patients developed distant metastases. A MALT lymphoma patient with a lung relapse was successfully salvaged with radiotherapy, but the other lymphoblastic lymphoma patient with bone marrow relapse expired. There were no severe complications but 5 patients developed radiation-induced cataracts and 2 patients developed dry eye. Conclusion : Most primary orbital lymphomas consisted of MALT lymphomas. Radiation therapy was a successful treatment modality for orbital lymphoma without any severe complications. In cases of local relapses, radiation therapy is also a very successful salvage treatment modality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate prognostic factors and survival rates of the patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer after curative surgery. Materials and Methods : Between October 1983 and July 1990, fifty three patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea were analysed retrospectively. Age at diagnosis ranged from 33 to 69 years (median 53 years). Pathological analysis showed that forty five ($84.9\%$) patients had squamous cell carcinoma, seven ($13.2\%$) patients had adenocarcinoma, and one (1.9%) patient had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The interval between hysterectomy and tumor recurrence ranged from 2 months to 25 years (mean 34.4 months). The recurrent sites were vaginal stump in 41 patients ($77.4\%$) and pelvic side wall in 12 patients ($22.6\%$). Recurrent tumor size was devided into two groups : less than 3 cm in 43 patients ($81.1\%$) and more than 3 cm in 10 patients ($18.9\%$). External beam irradiation of whole pelvis was done first up to 46.8 Gy to 50.4 Gy in 5 weeks to 6 weeks, followed by either external beam boost to the recurrent site in 18 patients ($34\%$) or intracavitary irradiation in 24 patients ($45.3\%$). Total dose of radiation ranged from 46.8 Gy to 111 Gy (median 70.2 Gy). Follow up period ranged from 2 to 153 months with a median of 35 months. Results : Overall response rate was $66\%$ (35/53). Among them, six patients ($17.1\%$) relapsed between 7 months and 116 months after radiation therapy (mean 47.7 months), Therefore overall recurrence rate was $45.3\%$. Overall five-year actuarial survival rate was $78.9\%$ and distant failure rate was $10\%$ (5/50). The significant prognostic factors affecting survival rate were interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence (p=0.0055), recurrent tumor size (p=0.0039), and initial response to radiation therapy (p=0.0428). Complications were observed in 10 ($20/%$) patients, which included mild to moderate lower gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or skin manifestations. One patient died of pulmonary embolism just after intracavitary irradiation. Conclustion : Radiation therapy is the effective treatment for the patients with locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery. These results suggest that interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence, recurrent tumor size, and initial response to radiation therapy were significant prognostic factors for recurrent cervical cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 1998

Purpose : The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the necessity of s1aging laparotomy in the management of supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease. Prognostic factors and the usefulness of prognostic factor groups were also analyzed. Materials and Methods : From 1985 to 1995, fifty one Patients who were diagnosed as supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease at Yonsei Cancer Center in Seoul, Korea were enrolled in this study Age range was 4 to 67 with median age of 30. The number of patients with each CS IA, II A, and IIB were 16, 25, and 10, respectively. Radiotherapy(RT) was delivered using 4 or 6 MV photon beam to a total dose of 19.5 to 55.6Gy (median dose : 45Gy) with a 1.5 to 1.BGy per fraction. Chemotherapy(CT) was given in 2-12 cycles(median : 6 cycles). Thirty one Patients were treated with RT alone, 4 patients with CT alone and 16 patients with combined chemoradiotherapy. RT volumes varied from involved fields(3), subtotal nodal fields(18) or mantle fields(26). Results : Five-year disease-free survival rate(DFS) was $78.0\%$ and overall survival rate(05) was $87.6\%$. Fifty Patients achieved a complete remission after initial treatment and 8 patients were relapsed. Salvage therapy was given to 7 patients, 1 with RT alone, 4 with CT alone, 2 with RT+CT. Only two patients were successfully salvaged. Feminine gender and large media-stinal adenopathy were significant adverse prognostic factors in the univariate analysis for DFS. The significant adverse prognostic factors of OS were B symptom and clinical stage. When patients were analyzed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC) prognostic factor groups, the DFS in Patients with very favorable, favorable and unfavorable group was 100, 100 and $55.8\%$(p<0.05), and the 05 in each patients' group was 100, 100 and $75.1\%$(p<0.05), respectively. In very favorable and favorable groups, the DFS and 05 were all $100\%$ by RT alone, but in unfavorable group, RT with CT had a lesser relapse rate than RT alone. The subtotal nodal irradiation had better OFS than mantle RT in patients treated with RT. Conclusion : In present study, the DFS and OS in patients who did not undergo s1aging laparotomy were similar with the results in the literatures of which patients were surgically staged. Therefore, we may suggest that staging laparotomy would not influence the outcome of treatments. In univariate analysis, gender, large mediastinal adenopathy. B symptoms and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors for the survival rate. We confirm the usefulness of EORTC prognostic factor groups which may be a good.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the role of postoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the treatment results of patients treated by curative surgical resection and postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods : From April 1989 through December 1998, 119 patients were treated with curative surgery and postoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal carcinoma in Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Patient age ranged from 32 to 73 years, with a median age of 56 years. Low anterior resection was peformed in 59 patients, and abdominoperineal resection in 60. Forty-three patients were AJCC stage II and 76 were stage III. Radiation was delivered with 6 MV X rays using either AP-PA two fields, AP-PA both lateral four fields, or PA both lateral three fields. Total radiation dose ranged from 40 Gy to 56 Gy. In 73 patients, bolus infusions of 5-FU $(400\;mg/m^2)$ were given during the first and fourth weeks of radiotherapy. After completion of radiotherapy, an additional four to six cycles of 5-FU were given. Oral 5-FU (Furtulone) was given for nine months in 46 patients. Results : Forty $(33.7\%)$ of the 119 patients showed treatment failure. Local failure occurred in 16 $(13.5\%)$ patients, 1 $(2.3\%)$ of 43 stage II patients and 15 $(19.7\%)$ of 76 stage III patients. Distant failure occurred in 31 $(26.1\%)$ patients, among whom 5 $(11.6\%)$ were stage II and 26 $(34.2\%)$ were stage III. Five-year actuarial survival was $56.2\%$ overall, $71.1\%$ in stage II patients and $49.1\%$ in stage III patients (p=0.0008). Five-year disease free survival was $53.3\%$ overall, $68.1\%$ in stage II and $45.8\%$ in stage III (p=0.0006). Multivariate analysis showed that T stage and N stage were significant prognostic factors for five year survival, and that T stage, N stage, and preoperative CEA value were significant prognostic factors for five year disease free survival. Bowel complication occurred in 22 patients, and was treated surgically in 15 $(12.6\%)$, and conservatively in 7 $(5.9\%)$. Conclusion : Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was confirmed to be an effective modality for local control of rectal cancer, but the distant failure rate remained high. More effective modalities should be investigated to lower the distant failure rate.