• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2009

Purpose: To report on the changes in the patterns of care and survival over time for esthesioneuroblastoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 42 previously untreated and histologically confirmed esthesioneuroblastoma patients seen between March 1989 and June 2007. According to Kadish's classification, 3 patients (7%) were stage A, 6 (14%) at stage B, and 33 (79%) at stage C. Of the 33 Kadish C patients, 19 and 14 patients were treated from 1989 through 2000 and from 2001 through 2007, respectively. Treatment included surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Chemotherapy was administered to 8 of 19 patients (42%) seen from 1989 through 2000, whereas all of the 14 patients seen from 2001 through 2007 received chemotherapy (p<0.001). No patient was treated by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) from 1989 through 2000, however 8 of 14 patients (67%) seen from 2001 through 2007 underwent 3D-CRT (p<0.001). The median follow-up time for surviving patients was 6.5 years (range, 2.2~15.8 years). Results: The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates for the entire cohort were 53% and 39%, respectively. The 5-year OS was 100% for Kadish stages A or B and 39% for stage C (p=0.007). For patients with stage C disease who were treated from 1989 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2007, the 5-year OS rate was 26% and 59% (p=0.029), respectively and the corresponding 5-year PFS rate was 16% and 46% (p=0.001), respectively. Intraorbital extension and treatment era (1989~2000 vs. 2001~2007) were found as independent factors for OS and PFS in a multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that treatment era, which features a distinction in treatment modality and technique with the introduction of 3D-CRT, may be the cause of improved OS and PFS in Kadish stage C patients. To achieve better outcomes for patients with Kadish stage C, combined chemoradiotherapy, especially 3D-CRT, is recommended in addition to surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2005

Purpose : We recently perform the latest radiotheraphy (3D conformal, IMRT,etc.) with the development of 3D CT planning technology. However, in case patients with breast cancer, it is difficult to acquire the CT image with the limitation of CT hole size and tilting of breast immobilization device. The Ewha Breast Device(EBD) was constructed to improve the problem in the treatment of patients with breast cancer and we are intend to introduce the procedure of the EBD construction in this study and compare the EBD with conventional breast device in the view point of usefulness. Materials and Methods : We have constructed the EBD with acryl, analyze the skull size with CT data, consider the skin folder in SCL field and evaluated the EBD usefulness from the view point of set-up reproducibility, dose distribution, skin reaction in comparison with conventional breast device. Results : In the case of patients set-up error analysis, the EBD is superior to conventional device in portal film repetition($\%$) check (80pt.), equal to that in simulation & CT image coincidence check(5pt.). There is no difference between the two systems in dose distribution and skin reaction in SCL field is better the EBD than conventional device. Conclusions : The construction of the EBD enable us to perform the latest radiotheraphy in breast treatments, relieve the pains in simulation, and reduce, the skin reaction. In the future, we expect that modification of the EBD is useful in treating for patients with breast cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2012

Purpose: To develop the dose volume histogram (DVH) management software which guides the evaluation of radiotherapy (RT) plan of a new case according to the biological consequences of the DVHs from the previously treated patients. Materials and Methods: We determined the radiation pneumonitis (RP) as an biological response parameter in order to develop DVH management software. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of lung cancer patients treated with curative 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). The biological event was defined as RP of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade III or more. Results: The DVH management software consisted of three parts (pre-existing DVH database, graphical tool, and $Pinnacle^3$ script). The pre-existing DVH data were retrieved from 128 patients. RP events were tagged to the specific DVH data through retrospective review of patients' medical records. The graphical tool was developed to present the complication histogram derived from the preexisting database (DVH and RP) and was implemented into the radiation treatment planning (RTP) system, $Pinnacle^3$ v8.0 (Phillips Healthcare). The software was designed for the pre-existing database to be updated easily by tagging the specific DVH data with the new incidence of RP events at the time of patients' follow-up. Conclusion: We developed the DVH management software as an effective tool to incorporate the phenomenological consequences derived from the pre-existing database in the evaluation of a new RT plan. It can be used not only for lung cancer patients but also for the other disease site with different toxicity parameters.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the monitor unit obtained from various methods for the treatment of superficial cancers using electron beams. Thirty-three breast cancer patients who were treated in our institution with 6, 9, and 12 MeV electron beams, were selected for this study. For each patient, irregularly shaped treatment blocks were drawn on simulation film and constructed. Using the irregular blocks, monitor units to deliver 100 cGy to the dose maximum (dmax) were calculated from measurement and three-dimensional radiation treatment planning (3D RTP) system (PINNACLE 6.0, ADAC Laboratories, Milpitas CA) Measurements were made in solid water phantom with plane parallel (PP) chamber (Roos, OTW Germany) at 100 cm source-to surface distances. CT data was used to investigate the effect of heterogeneity. Monitor units were calculated by overriding CT values with 1 g/㎤ and in the presence of heterogeneity. The monitor unit values obtained by the above methods were compared. The dose, obtained from measurement in solid water phantom was higher than that of RTP values for irregularly shaped blocks. The maximum differences between monitor unit calculated in flat water phantom at gantry zero position were 4% for 6 MeV and 2% for 9 and 12 MeV electrons. When CT data was used at a various gantry angle the agreement between the TPS data with and without density correction was within 3% for all energies. These results indicate that there are no significant difference in terms of monitor unit when density is corrected for the treatment of breast cancer patients with electrons.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2004

According to developing high energy linear accelerators and treatment methods, like (3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), many radiotherapy centers are replacing older linear accelerators with new higher technical machines. This often presents a shielding problem as the designed shield for the existing rooms is not adequate for the higher technical machines. Additional shielding in limited existing space becomes necessary. We are replacing older brachytherapy room with new higher technical linear accelerator for IMRT. This room is not adequate for the IMRT machine without additional shielding design. The logical development of optimum structural shielding designs with concrete and high density shielding blocks are presented. We obtained following results by comparison between the pre-calculating values and actual survey of completed LINAC installation. High density shielding blocks have more powerful radiation protection about 2 times.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2012

The effect of setup uncertainties on CTV dose and the correlation between setup uncertainties and setup margin were evaluated by Monte Carlo based numerical simulation. Patient specific information of IMRT treatment plan for rectal cancer designed on the VARIAN Eclipse planning system was utilized for the Monte Carlo simulation program including the planned dose distribution and tumor volume information of a rectal cancer patient. The simulation program was developed for the purpose of the study on Linux environment using open source packages, GNU C++ and ROOT data analysis framework. All misalignments of patient setup were assumed to follow the central limit theorem. Thus systematic and random errors were generated according to the gaussian statistics with a given standard deviation as simulation input parameter. After the setup error simulations, the change of dose in CTV volume was analyzed with the simulation result. In order to verify the conventional margin recipe, the correlation between setup error and setup margin was compared with the margin formula developed on three dimensional conformal radiation therapy. The simulation was performed total 2,000 times for each simulation input of systematic and random errors independently. The size of standard deviation for generating patient setup errors was changed from 1 mm to 10 mm with 1 mm step. In case for the systematic error the minimum dose on CTV $D_{min}^{stat{\cdot}}$ was decreased from 100.4 to 72.50% and the mean dose $\bar{D}_{syst{\cdot}}$ was decreased from 100.45% to 97.88%. However the standard deviation of dose distribution in CTV volume was increased from 0.02% to 3.33%. The effect of random error gave the same result of a reduction of mean and minimum dose to CTV volume. It was found that the minimum dose on CTV volume $D_{min}^{rand{\cdot}}$ was reduced from 100.45% to 94.80% and the mean dose to CTV $\bar{D}_{rand{\cdot}}$ was decreased from 100.46% to 97.87%. Like systematic error, the standard deviation of CTV dose ${\Delta}D_{rand}$ was increased from 0.01% to 0.63%. After calculating a size of margin for each systematic and random error the "population ratio" was introduced and applied to verify margin recipe. It was found that the conventional margin formula satisfy margin object on IMRT treatment for rectal cancer. It is considered that the developed Monte-carlo based simulation program might be useful to study for patient setup error and dose coverage in CTV volume due to variations of margin size and setup error.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.166-176
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• 2010

Purpose: To determine the appropriate prostate planning target volume (PTV) margins for 3-dimensitional (3D) conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) patients treated with an endorectal balloon (ERB) under our institutional treatment condition. Materials and Methods: Patients were treated in the supine position. An ERB was inserted into the rectum with 70 cc air prior to planning a CT scan and then each treatment fraction. Electronic portal images (EPIs) and digital reconstructed radiographs (DRR) of planning CT images were used to evaluate inter-fractional patient's setup and ERB errors. To register both image sets, we developed an in-house program written in visual $C^{++}$. A new method to determine prostate PTV margins with an ERB was developed by using the common method. Results: The mean value of patient setup errors was within 1 mm in all directions. The ERB inter-fractional errors in the superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions were larger than in the left-right (LR) direction. The calculated 1D symmetric PTV margins were 3.0 mm, 8.2 mm, and 8.5 mm for 3D CRT and 4.1 mm, 7.9 mm, and 10.3 mm for IMRT in LR, SI, and AP, respectively according to the new method including ERB random errors. Conclusion: The ERB random error contributes to the deformation of the prostate, which affects the original treatment planning. Thus, a new PTV margin method includes dose blurring effects of ERB. The correction of ERB systematic error is a prerequisite since the new method only accounts for ERB random error.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4577-4581
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid function in breast cancer patients exposed to therapeutic external beam radiation. The focus was on possible progressive changes and any relationships between the incidence of primary hypothyroidism, the time required to become hypothyroid, and factors such as chemotherapy, hormonotherapy and immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: Seventy females undergoing 3D conformal and IMRT radiation therapy for breast cancers were enrolled in a non-randomized prospective study. The patients was divided into two groups: those after mastectomy or breast conserving surgery (BCS) were irradiated to a scar of the chest wall/breast and the ipsilateral supraclavicular and the axillary areas (supraclavicular radiotherapy group - SC-RT group - 32 patients) and the control group receiving adjuvant chest wall/breast RT only (BCT group - 38 patients).The total doses were 50.0 to 70 Gy in 5 to 7 weeks. The median follow-up term was 24 months (range, 1-40 months). Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels. The minimum, maximum and mean thyroid gland doses for 20 Gy (V20) were calculated for all patients. Results: Statistically significant results were obtained for the SC-RT group. Two yearsa fter the end of RT the chance of an event was increased in 6% of the population (p=0.009) in the SC-RT group. In the BCT group no significance was noted. No statistically significant differences were found for V20, chemio-, immunotherapy and hormonotherapy or Ki67 values (p=0.12). No significant results were obtained for development of hypothyroidism and clinical factors (age, thyroid volume, treatment modalities). Conclusion: Radiotherapy is associated with a higher incidence of thyroid toxicity in breast cancer patients. Routine thyroid function monitoring should be recommended in such cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.709-718
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• 2022

We evaluated the effect of high-density aluminum, titanium, and steel metal inserts on computed tomography (CT) numbers and radiation treatment plans for Tomotherapy. CT images were obtained using a cylindrical TomoPhantom comprising cylindrical rods of various densities and metal inserts. Three CT image sets were evaluated for image quality as the mean CT number and standard deviation. Dose evaluation also performed. The reference values did not significantly differ between the CT image sets with the corrected metal inserts. The higher-density material exhibited the largest difference in the mean CT number and standard deviation. The conformity index at Iterative-Metal Artifact Reduction (iMAR) was approximately 20% better than that of non-iMAR. No significant target or organ at risk dose difference was observed between non-iMAR and iMAR. Therefore, iMAR is helpful for target or organ at risk delineation and for reducing uncertainty for three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in Tomotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4223-4228
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and dosimetric factors associated with acute esophagitis (AE) in lung cancer patients treated with conformal radiotherapy (RT) in Turkey. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective review 104 lung cancer patients were examined. Esophagitis grades were verified weekly during treatment, and at 1 week, and 1 and 2 months afterwards. The clinical parameters included patient age, gender, tumor pathology, number of chemotherapy treatments before RT, concurrent chemotherapy, radiation dose, tumor response to RT, tumor localization, interruption of RT, weight loss, tumor and nodal stage and tumor volume. The following dosimetric parameters were analyzed for correlation of AE: The maximum ($D_{max}$) and mean ($D_{mean}$) doses delivered to the esophagus, the percentage of esophagus volume receiving ${\geq}10$ Gy ($V_{10}$), ${\geq}20$ Gy ($V_{20}$), ${\geq}30$ Gy ($V_{30}$), ${\geq}35$ Gy ($V_{35}$), ${\geq}40$ Gy ($V_{40}$), ${\geq}45$ Gy ($V_{45}$), ${\geq}50$ Gy ($V_{50}$) and ${\geq}60$ Gy ($V_{60}$). Results: Fifty-five patients (52.9%) developed AE. Maximum grades of AE were recorded: Grade 1 in 51 patients (49%), and Grade 2 in 4 patients (3.8%). Clinical factors had no statistically significant influence on the incidence of AE. In terms of dosimetric findings, correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between AE and $D_{max}$ (>5117 cGy), $D_{mean}$ (>1487 cGy) and $V_{10-60}$ (percentage of volume receiving >10 to 60 Gy). The most significant relationship between RT and esophagitis were in $D_{max}$ (>5117 cGy) (p=0.002) and percentage of esophageal volume receiving >30 Gy ($V_{30}$ >31%) (p=0.008) in the logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The maximum dose esophagus greater than 5117 cGy and approximately one third (31%) of the esophageal volume receiving >30 Gy was the most statistically significant predictive factor associated with esophagitis due to RT.