• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 1989

Several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms were studied to measure electron beams. Silicon Pmt junction diode was used to find the dependence of depth dose profile on field size on axis of electron beam Depths of 50, 80 and $90\%$ doses increased with the field size for small fields. For some larger fields, they were nearly constant. The smallest of field sizes over which the parameters were constant was enlarged with increase of the energy of electron beams. Depth dose distributions on axis of electron beam of $10\times10cm^2$ field were studied with several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms. Cylindrical ion chamber could not be used for measurement of surface dose, and was not convenient for measurement of near surface region of 6MeV electron. With some exceptions, parameters agreed well with those studied by different devices and phantoms. Surface dose in some energies showed $4\%$ difference between maximum and minimum. For 18MeV, depths of 80 and $90\%$ doses were considerably shallower by film than by others. Parallel-plate ion chamber with polystyrene phamtom and silicon PN junction would be recommended for measurement of central axis depth dose of electron beams with considerably large field size. It is desirable not to use cylindrical ion chamber for the purpose of measurement of surface dose or near surface region for lower energy electron beam. It is questionable that film would be recommended for measurement of dose distribution of electron with high energy like as 18MeV.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2005

Purpose : Electron is used for the treatment of skin cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer in clinic. Our study is performed to check the isodose distribution in source surface distance(SSD)and source bolus distance(SBD)setup, nipple influence to isodose distribution of electron, junctional area isodose variation of photon and electron field. Materials and Methods : The electron dose distribution measures the diameter for 20 cm hemisphere paraffin phantom 2 made. It inserted the film between 2 paraffin phantom and it investigated it got radiation and dose distribution curve. Results : The 8% of isodose difference is with the surface distance(SSD)and source bolus distance(SBD)setup. The electon when the nipple exists inside the field, as nipple size it cuts the bolus and when it puts out and there is a possibility of getting the dose distribution which is homogeneous. When in the junction of electron and photon it uses the bolus it uses in the electron field whole, there is a possibility of getting the dose distribution which is homogeneous. Conclusion : The dose distribution decrease from the SBD setup. To reduce the influence of nipple, corresponding volume of bolus should be removed. And bolus covering all the electron field reduced hot and cold spot of junctional area of photon. In the future becomes the research which sees an effective electron therapy.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.92-100
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• 2018

The manufacturer of a linear accelerator (LINAC) has reported that the target melting phenomenon could be caused by a non-recommended output setting and the excessive use of monitor unit (MU) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Due to these reasons, we observed an unexpected beam interruption during the treatment of a patient in our institution. The target status was inspected and a replacement of the target was determined. After the target replacement, the beam profile was adjusted to the machine commissioning beam data, and the absolute doses-to-water for 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams were calibrated according to American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group (TG)-51 protocol. To verify the beam data after target replacement, the beam flatness, symmetry, output factor, and percent depth dose (PDD) were measured and compared with the commissioning data. The difference between the referenced and measured data for flatness and symmetry exhibited a coincidence within 0.3% for both 6 MV and 10 MV, and the difference of the PDD at 10 cm depth ($PDD_{10}$) was also within 0.3% for both photon energies. Also, patient-specific quality assurances (QAs) were performed with gamma analysis using a 2-D diode and ion chamber array detector for eight patients. The average gamma passing rates for all patients for the relative dose distribution was $99.1%{\pm}1.0%$, and those for absolute dose distribution was $97.2%{\pm}2.7%$, which means the gamma analysis results were all clinically acceptable. In this study, we recommend that the beam characteristics, such as beam profile, depth dose, and output factors, should be examined. Further, patient-specific QAs should be performed to verify the changes in the overall beam delivery system when a target replacement is inevitable; although it is more important to check the beam output in a daily routine.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2018

The proper position of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) is essential for the quality of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) dose delivery. Task Group (TG) 142 provides a quality assurance (QA) procedure for MLC position. Our study investigated the QA validation of the mechanical leaf gap measurement and the maintenance procedure. Two $VitalBeam^{TM}$ systems were evaluated to validate the acceptance of an MLC position. The dosimetric leaf gaps (DLGs) were measured for 6 MV, 6 MVFFF, 10 MV, and 15 MV photon beams. A solid water phantom was irradiated using $10{\times}10cm^2$ field size at source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 90 cm and depth of 10 cm. The portal dose image prediction (PDIP) calculation was implemented on a treatment planning system (TPS) called $Eclipse^{TM}$. A total of 20 VMAT plans were used to confirm the accuracy of dose distribution measured by an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and those predicted by VMAT plans. The measured leaf gaps were 0.30 mm and 0.35 mm for VitalBeam 1 and 2, respectively. The DLG values decreased by an average of 6.9% and 5.9% after mechanical MLC adjustment. Although the passing rates increased slightly, by 1.5% (relative) and 1.2% (absolute) in arc 1, the average passing rates were still within the good dose delivery level (>95%). Our study shows the existence of a mechanical leaf gap error caused by a degenerated MLC motor. This can be recovered by reinitialization of MLC position on the machine control panel. Consequently, the QA procedure should be performed regularly to protect the MLC system.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2003

I. Purpose Uniform dose distribution of the whole body is essential factor for the total body irradiation(TBI). In order to achieved this goal, we used to compensation filter to compensate body contour irregularity and thickness differences. But we can not compensate components of body, namely lung or bone. The purpose of this study is evaluation of dose attenuation in bone tissue when TBI using diode detectors and TLD system. II. Materials and Methods The object of this study were 5 patients who undergo TBI at our hospital. Dosimetry system were diode detectors and TLD system. Treatment method was bilateral and delivered 10MV X-ray from linear accelerator. Measurement points were head, neck, pelvis, knees and ankles. TLD used two patients and diode detectors used three patients. III. Results Results are as followed. All measured dose value were normalized skin dose. TLD dosimetry : Measured skin dose of head, neck, pelvis, knees and ankles were $92.78{\pm}3.3,\;104.34{\pm}2.3,\;98.03{\pm}1.4,\;99.9{\pm}2.53,\;98.17{\pm}0.56$ respectably. Measured mid-depth dose of pelvis, knees and ankles were $86{\pm}1.82,\;93.24{\pm}2.53,\;91.50{\pm}2.84$ respectably. There were $6.67\%{\sim}11.65\%$ dose attenuation at mid-depth in pelvis, knees and ankles. Diode detector : Measured skin dose of head, neck, pelvis, knees and ankles were $95.23{\pm}1.18,\;98.33{\pm}0.6,\;93.5{\pm}1.5,\;87.3{\pm}1.5,\;86.90{\pm}1.16$ respectably. There were $4.53\%{\sim}12.6\%$ dose attenuation at mid-depth in pelvis, knees and ankles. IV. Conclusion We concluded that dose measurement with TLD or diode detector was inevitable when TBI treatment. Considered dose attenuation in bone tissue, We must have adequately deduction of compensator thickness that body portion involved bone tissue.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2000

This study was performed for the clinical applications applying the Monte Carlo methods. In this study we calculated the absorbed dose distributions for the 6 MeV electron beam in water phantom and compared the results with measured values. The energy data of electron beam used in Monte Carlo calculation is the energy distribution for 6 MeV electron beam which is assumed as a Gaussian form. We calculated percent depth doses and beam profiles for three field sizes of $10{\times}10,\;15{\times}15$, and $20{\times}20\;cm^2$ in water phantom using Monte Carlo methods and measured those data using a semiconductor detector and other devices. We found that the calculated percent depth doses and beam profiles agree with the measured values approximately. However, the calculated beam profiles at the edge of the fields were estimated to be lower than the measured values. The reason for that result is that we did not consider the angular distributions of the electrons in phantom surface and contamination of X-rays in our calculations. In conclusion, in order to apply the Monte Carlo methods to the clinical calculations we are to study the source models for electron beam of the linear accelerator beforehand.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2023

This study compared the dose calculated using the electron Monte Carlo (eMC) dose calculation algorithm employing the old version (eMC V13.7) of the Varian Eclipse treatment-planning system (TPS) and its newer version (eMC V16.1). The eMC V16.1 was configured using the same beam data as the eMC V13.7. Beam data measured using the VitalBeam linear accelerator were implemented. A box-shaped water phantom (30×30×30 cm³) was generated in the TPS. Consequently, the TPS with eMC V13.7 and eMC V16.1 calculated the dose to the water phantom delivered by electron beams of various energies with a field size of 10×10 cm². The calculations were repeated while changing the dose-smoothing levels and normalization method. Subsequently, the percentage depth dose and lateral profile of the dose distributions acquired by eMC V13.7 and eMC V16.1 were analyzed. In addition, the dose-volume histogram (DVH) differences between the two versions for the heterogeneous phantom with bone and lung inserted were compared. The doses calculated using eMC V16.1 were similar to those calculated using eMC V13.7 for the homogenous phantoms. However, a DVH difference was observed in the heterogeneous phantom, particularly in the bone material. The dose distribution calculated using eMC V16.1 was comparable to that of eMC V13.7 in the case of homogenous phantoms. The version changes resulted in a different DVH for the heterogeneous phantoms. However, further investigations to assess the DVH differences in patients and experimental validations for eMC V16.1, particularly for heterogeneous geometry, are required.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2003

Introduction: With the development of dose calculation algorithms for electron beams, 3D RTP systerns are available for electron beam dose distribution commercially. However, no studies evaluated the accuracy of dose calculation with ADAC Pinnacle system for electron beams. So, the accuracy of the ADAC system is investigated by comparing electron dose distributions from ADAC system against the BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc. Methods: A total of 33 breast cancer patients treated with 6, 9, and 12MeV electrons in our institution was selected for this study. The first part of this study is to compare the dose distributions of measurement, TPS and the BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc code in flat water phantom at gantry zero position and for a 10 ${\times}$ 10 $\textrm{cm}^2$ field. The second part is to evaluate the monitor unit obtained from measurement and TPS. Adding actual breast patient's irregular blocks to the first part, monitor units to deliver 100 cGy to the dose maximum (dmax) were calculated from measurement and 3D RTP system. In addition, the dose distributions using blocks were compared between TPS and the BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc code. Finally, the effects of tissue inhomogeneities were studied by comparing dose distributions from Pinnacle and Monte Carlo method on CT data sets. Results: The dose distributions calculated using water phantom by the TPS and the BEAMnrc/ DOSXYZnrc code agreed well with measured data within 2% of the maximum dose. The maximum differences of monitor unit between measured and Pinnacle TPS in flat water phantom at gantry zero position were 4% for 6 MeV and 2% for 9 and 12 MeV electrons. In real-patient cases, comparison of depth doses and lateral dose profiles calculated by the Pinnacle TPS, with BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc code has generally shown good agreement with relative difference less than +/-3%. Discussion: For comparisons of real-patient cases, the maximum differences between the TPS and BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc on CT data were 10%. These discrepancies were due in part to the inaccurate dose calculation of the TPS, so that it needs to be improved properly. Conclusions: On the basis of the results presented in this study, we can conclude that the ADAC Pinnacle system for electron beams is capable of giving results absolutely comparable to those of a Monte Carlo calculation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1992

For intraoperative radiation therapy using electron beams, a cone system to deliver a large dose to the tumor during surgical operation and to save the surrounding normal tissue should be developed and dosimetry for the cone system is necessary to find proper X-ray collimator setting as well as to get useful data for clinical use. We developed a docking type of a cone system consisting of two parts made of aluminum: holder and cone. The cones which range from 4cm to 9cm with 1cm step at 100cm SSD of photon beam are 28cm long circular tubular cylinders. The system has two 26cm long holders: one for the cones larger than or equal to 7cm diamter and another for the smaller ones than 7cm. On the side of the holder is an aperture for insertion of a lamp and mirror to observe treatment field. Depth dose curve. dose profile and output factor at dept of dose maximum. and dose distribution in water for each cone size were measured with a p-type silicone detector controlled by a linear scanner for several extra opening of X-ray collimators. For a combination of electron energy and cone size, the opening of the X-ray collimator was caused to the surface dose, depths of dose maximum and 80%, dose profile and output factor. The variation of the output factor was the most remarkable. The output factors of 9MeV electron, as an example, range from 0.637 to 1.549. The opening of X-ray collimators would cause the quantity of scattered electrons coming to the IORT cone system. which in turn would change the dose distribution as well as the output factor. Dosimetry for an IORT cone system is inevitable to minimize uncertainty in the clinical use.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2007

Dose evaluation for small field such as stereotactic radiosurgery was performed using $Gafchromic^{(R)}$ EBT film. Every film which irradiated 6MV photon beam was scanned and obtained the optical density(OD) by flat bed scanner after 24 hours of irradiation. This study compared dose from diode in water and Gafchromic $EBT^{(R)}$ film in acrylic phantom to verify the reliability of the film, and to evaluate the SRS in clinical dose distributions from calculation and measurement in the region of virtual target in humanoid and cylindrical phantoms were compared. The Gafchromic $EBT^{(R)}$ film was found to be linear up to 9Gy. The $D_{max}$ for 6 MV was measured at 1.5 cm from the surface by both of diode and the film. As the depth is deeper, the error was measured within $2{\sim}3%$ at $10{\sim}20\;cm$ depth. Comparing between distribution from calculation and measurement, we found that there is 5% error at 90% isodose line. We found that given dose could be measured accurately by using the phantoms. It was feasible to use the Gafchromic $EBT^{(R)}$ film in quality assurance of SRS.