• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2004

To deal with tumor motion from respiration is one of the important issues for the advanced treatment techniques, such as the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), the three dimensional conformal therapy (3D-CRT) and the Cyber Knife. Studies including the active breath control (ABC) and the gated radiation therapy have been reported. Authors have developed the device for reducing the respiration effects and the diaphragm motions with this device were observed to determined the effectiveness of the device. The device consists of four belts to immobilize diaphragm motion and the vacuum cushion. Diaphragm motions without and with device were monitored fluoroscopically. Diaphragm motion ranges were found to be 1.14 ～ 3.14 cm (average 2.14 cm) without the device and 0.72～1.95 cm (average 1.16 cm) with the device. The motion ranges were decreased 20 ～ 68.4% (average 44.9%.) However, the respiration cycle was increased from 4.4 seconds to 3.7 seconds. The CTV-PTV margin could be decreased significantly with the device developed in this study, which may be applied to the treatments of the tumor sited diaphragm region.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.276-284
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• 2018

Purpose: Traditionally, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) is used for neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was later developed for more conformal dose distribution, with the potential for reduced toxicity across many disease sites. We sought to use the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine trends and predictors for IMRT use in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2004 to 2015 for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation to standard doses followed by surgical resection. Odds ratios were used to determine predictors of IMRT use. Univariable and multivariable Cox regressions were used to determine potential predictors of overall survival (OS). Propensity matching was used to account for any indication bias. Results: Among 21,490 eligible patients, 3,131 were treated with IMRT. IMRT use increased from 1% in 2004 to 22% in 2014. Predictors for IMRT use included increased N stage, higher comorbidity score, more recent year, treatment at an academic facility, increased income, and higher educational level. On propensity-adjusted, multivariable analysis, male gender, increased distance to facility, higher comorbidity score, IMRT technique, government insurance, African-American race, and non-metro location were predictive of worse OS. Of note, the complete response rate at time of surgery was 28% with non-IMRT and 21% with IMRT. Conclusion: IMRT use has steadily increased in the treatment of rectal cancer, but still remains only a fraction of overall treatment technique, more often reserved for higher disease burden.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.132-138
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• 2009

Studies on target motion in 4-dimensional radiotherapy are being world-widely conducted to enhance treatment record and protection of normal organs. Prediction of tumor motion might be very useful and/or essential for especially free-breathing system during radiation delivery such as respiratory gating system and tumor tracking system. Neural network is powerful to express a time series with nonlinearity because its prediction algorithm is not governed by statistic formula but finds a rule of data expression. This study intended to assess applicability of neural network method to predict tumor motion in 4-dimensional radiotherapy. Scaled Conjugate Gradient algorithm was employed as a learning algorithm. Considering reparation data for 10 patients, prediction by the neural network algorithms was compared with the measurement by the real-time position management (RPM) system. The results showed that the neural network algorithm has the excellent accuracy of maximum absolute error smaller than 3 mm, except for the cases in which the maximum amplitude of respiration is over the range of respiration used in the learning process of neural network. It indicates the insufficient learning of the neural network for extrapolation. The problem could be solved by acquiring a full range of respiration before learning procedure. Further works are programmed to verify a feasibility of practical application for 4-dimensional treatment system, including prediction performance according to various system latency and irregular patterns of respiration.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2016

Purpose : The aim of this study was to compare the differences between the volumes acquired with four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT)images with a reconstruction image-filtering algorithm and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with dynamic phantom. Materials and Methods : The 4DCT images were obtained from the computerized imaging reference systems (CIRS) phantom using a computed tomography (CT) simulator. We analyzed the volumes for maximum intensity projection (MIP), minimum intensity projection (MinIP) and average intensity projection (AVG) of the images obtained with the 4DCT scanner against those acquired from CBCT images with CT ranger tools. Results : Difference in volume for node of 1, 2 and 3 cm between CBCT and 4DCT was 0.54~2.33, 5.16~8.06, 9.03~20.11 ml in MIP, respectively, 0.00~1.48, 0.00~8.47, 1.42~24.85 ml in MinIP, respectively and 0.00~1.17, 0.00~2.19, 0.04~3.35 ml in AVG, respectively. Conclusion : After a comparative analysis of the volumes for each nodal size, it was apparent that the CBCT images were similar to the AVG images acquired using 4DCT.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2012

Purpose: To determine feasibility of RapidArc in sequential or simultaneous integrated tumor boost in whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for poor prognostic patients with four or more brain metastases. Materials and Methods: Nine patients with multiple (${\geq}4$) brain metastases were analyzed. Three patients were classified as class II in recursive partitioning analysis and 6 were class III. The class III patients presented with hemiparesis, cognitive deficit, or apraxia. The ratio of tumor to whole brain volume was 0.8-7.9%. Six patients received 2-dimensional bilateral WBRT, (30 Gy/10-12 fractions), followed by sequential RapidArc tumor boost (15-30 Gy/4-10 fractions). Three patients received RapidArc WBRT with simultaneous integrated boost to tumors (48-50 Gy) in 10-20 fractions. Results: The median biologically effective dose to metastatic tumors was 68.1 $Gy_{10}$ and 67.2 $Gy_{10}$ and the median brain volume irradiated more than 100 $Gy_3$ were 1.9% (24 $cm^3$) and 0.8% (13 $cm^3$) for each group. With less than 3 minutes of treatment time, RapidArc was easily applied to the patients with poor performance status. The follow-up period was 0.3-16.5 months. Tumor responses among the 6 patients who underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging were partial and stable in 3 and 3, respectively. Overall survival at 6 and 12 months were 66.7% and 41.7%, respectively. The local progression-free survival at 6 and 12 months were 100% and 62.5%, respectively. Conclusion: RapidArc as a component in whole brain radiation therapy for poor prognostic, multiple brain metastases is an effective and safe modality with easy application.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

Purpose: It's essential to minimize the tumor motion and identify the exact location of the lesions to achieve the improvement in radiation therapy efficiency during SBRT. In this study, we made the established compression belt to reduce respiratory motion and evaluated the usefulness of clinical application in SBRT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the merits and demerits of the established compression belt to reduce the respiratory motion and improved the reproducibility and precision in use. To evaluate the usefulness of improved compression belt for respiratory motion reduction in SBRT, firstly, we reviewed the spiral CT images acquired in inspiration and expiration states of 8 lung cancer cases, respectively, and analyzed the three dimensional tumor motion related to respiration. To evaluate isodose distribution, secondly, we also made the special phantom using EBT2 film (Gafchronic, ISP, USA) and we prepared the robot (Cartesian Robot-2 Axis, FARARCM4H, Samsung Mechatronics, Korea) to reproduce three dimensional tumor motion. And analysis was made for isodose curves and two dimensional isodose profiles with reproducibility of respiratory motion on the basis of CT images. Results: A respiratory motion reduction compression belt (Velcro type) that has convenient use and good reproducibility was developed. The moving differences of three dimensional tumor motion of lung cancer cases analyzed by CT images were mean 3.2 mm, 4.3 mm and 13 mm each in LR, AP and CC directions. The result of characteristic change in dose distribution using the phantom and rectangular coordinates robot showed that the distortion of isodose has great differences, mean length was 4.2 mm; the differences were 8.0% and 16.8% each for cranio-caudal and 8.1% and 10.9% each for left-right directions in underdose below the prescribed dose. Conclusion: In this study, we could develop the convenient and efficient compression belt that can make the organs' motion minimize. With this compression belt, we confirmed that underdose due to respiration can be coped with when CTV-PTV margins of mean 6 mm would be used. And we conclude that the respiratory motion reduction compression belt we developed can be used for clinical effective aids along with the gating system.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.419-426
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• 2013

This study investigates the usefulness of body fix in 4DRT on Liver cancer trying to find tumor tissue's volume and located variations, absorbed dose on tumor and normal tissues. Test subjects 23 patients were agreed these test. These patient's have a 4 dimensional CT scan. We make an acquisition on patients CT image by two types -put on the body fix or not-. Average tumor volume reduced by 0.17% on GTV and 3.2% on CTV and PTV. Tumor's variation reduces 29.8%(anterior and posterior, AP) and 5.31% (upper and lower, UL). The absorbed tumor doses under put on the body fix was a little higher(1.3%) than other. Normal tissues'(normal liver, stomach, Rt. kidney, spinal cord) absorbed dose could be reduced approximately 5%. Therefore, using body fix on 4DRT for liver cancer patient is considered effectively.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2019

Purpose: To investigate the differences in treatment outcomes between two radiation techniques, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 160 (IMRT = 23, 3DCRT = 137) patients with stage I glottic cancer treated from January 2005 through December 2016. The IMRT was performed with TomoTherapy (16 patients), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (6 patients), and step-and-shoot technique (1 patient), respectively. The 3DCRT was performed with bilateral parallel opposing fields. The median follow-up duration was 30 months (range, 31 to 42 months) in the IMRT group and 65 months (range, 20 to 143 months) in the 3DCRT group. Results: The 5-year overall survival and 3-year local control rates of the 160 patients were 95.7% and 91.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 3-year local control rates between the IMRT and 3DCRT groups (94.4% vs. 91.0%; p = 0.587). Thirteen of 137 patients in the 3DCRT group had recurrences. In the IMRT group, one patient had a recurrence at the true vocal cord. Patients treated with IMRT had less grade 2 skin reaction than the 3DCRT group, but this had no statistical significance (4.3% vs. 21.2%; p = 0.080). Conclusion: IMRT had comparable outcomes with 3DCRT, and a trend of less acute skin reaction in stage I glottic cancer patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.100-105
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• 2017

The purpose of the present study was to develop and evaluate patient-customized helmets with a three-dimensional (3D) printer for radiation therapy of malignant scalp tumors. Computed tomography was performed in a case an Alderson RANDO phantom without bolus (Non_Bolus), in a case with a dental wax bolus on the scalp (Wax_Bolus), and in a case with a patient-customized helmet fabricated using a 3D printer (3D Printing_Bolus); treatment plans for each of the 3 cases were compared. When wax bolus was used to fabricate a bolus, a drier was used to apply heat to the bolus to make the helmet. $3-matic^{(R)}$ (Materialise) was used for modeling and polyamide 12 (PA-12) was used as a material, 3D Printing bolus was fabricated using a HP JET Fusion 3D 4200. The average Hounsfield Unit (HU) for the Wax_Bolus was -100, and that of the 3D Printing_Bolus was -10. The average radiation doses to the normal brain with the Non_Bolus, Wax_Bolus, and 3D Printing_Bolus methods were 36.3%, 40.2%, and 36.9%, and the minimum radiation dose were 0.9%, 1.6%, 1.4%, respectively. The organs at risk dose were not significantly difference. However, the 95% radiation doses into the planning target volume (PTV) were 61.85%, 94.53%, and 97.82%, and the minimum doses were 0%, 77.1%, and 82.8%, respectively. The technique used to fabricate patient-customized helmets with a 3D printer for radiation therapy of malignant scalp tumors is highly useful, and is expected to accurately deliver doses by reducing the air gap between the patient and bolus.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

The $TomoTherapy^{(R)}$ beam-delivery method creates helical beam-junctioning patterns in the dose distribution within the target. In addition, the dose discrepancy results in the particular region where the resonance by pattern of dose delivery occurs owing to the change in the position and shape of internal organs with a patient's respiration during long treatment times. In this study, we evaluated the dose pattern of the longitudinal profile with the change in respiration. The superior-inferior motion signal of the programmable respiratory motion phantom was obtained using AbChes as a four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) original moving signal. We delineated virtual targets in the phantom and planned to deliver the prescription dose of 300 cGy using field widths of 1.0 cm, 2.5 cm, and 5.0 cm. An original moving signal was fitted to reflecting the beam delivery time of the $TomoTherapy^{(R)}$. The EBT3 film was inserted into the phantom movement cassette, and static, without the movement and with the original movement, was measured with signal changes of 2.0 s, 4.0 s, and 5.0 s periods, and 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm amplitudes. It was found that a dose fluctuation within ${\pm}4.0%$ occurred in all longitudinal profiles. Compared with the original movement, the region of the gamma index above 1 partially appeared within the target and the border of the target when the period and amplitude were changed. Gamma passing rates were 95.00% or more. However, cases for a 5.0 s period and 4.0 mm amplitude at a field width of 2.5 cm and for 2.0 s and 5.0 s periods at a field width of 5.0 cm have gamma passing rates of 92.73%, 90.31%, 90.31%, and 93.60%. $TomoTherapy^{(R)}$ shows a small difference in dose distribution according to the changes of period and amplitude of respiration. Therefore, to treat a variable respiratory motion region, a margin reflecting the degree of change of respiration signal is required.