• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2516-2523
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• 2024

This study aims to validate the dosimetric characteristics of Low Dose Rate (LDR) I-125 source Geant4-based Monte Carlo code. According to the recommendation of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) task group report (TG-43), the dosimetric parameters of a new brachytherapy source should be verified either experimentally or theoretically before clinical procedures. The simulation studies are very important since this procedure delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor with only a minimal dose affecting the surrounding tissues. GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit associated brachytherapy example was modified, adapted and several updated techniques have been developed to facilitate and smooth radiotherapy techniques. The great concordance of the current study results with the consensus data and with the results of other MC based studies is promising. It implies that Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation has the potential to be used as a reliable and standard simulation code in the field of brachytherapy for verification and treatment planning purposes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 1990

From May 1979 through December 1981 a total of 524 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated by radiation therapy with curative intent. Among the 524 patients, 350 were treated with a high-dose-rate (HDR), remote-controlled, afterloading intracavitary irradiation (ICR) system using a cobalt source (Ralstron), and 168 patients received a low-dose-rate (LDR) ICR using a radium source. External beam irradiation with a total dose of 40-50 Gy to the whole pelvis followed by intracavitary irradiation with a total dose of 30-39 Gy in 10-13 fractions to point A was the treatment protocol. ICR was given three times a week with a dose of 3 Gy per fraction. Five-year actuarial survival rates in the HDR-ICR group were $77.6{\%}$ in stage IB (N=20), $68.2{\%}$ in stage II (N=182), and $50.9{\%}$ in stage III (N=148). In LDR-ICR group, 5-year survival rates were $87.5{\%}$ in stage IB (N=22), $66.3{\%}$ in stage II (N=91), and $55.4{\%}$ in stage III (N=52). Survival rates showed a statistically significant difference by stage, but there was no significant difference between the two ICR groups. Late bowel complications after radiotherapy were noted in $3.7{\%}$ of the HDR-ICR group and $8.4{\%}$ of the LDR-ICR group. There was no severe complication requiring surgical management. The incidence of bladder complications was $1.4{\%}$ in the HDR-ICR group and $2.4{\%}$ in the LDR-ICR group. The application of HDR-ICR was technically simple and easily performed on an outpatient basis without anesthesia, and the patients tolerated it very well. Radiation exposure to personnel was virtually nil in contrast to that of LDR-ICR. Within a given period of time, more patients can be treated with HDR-ICR because of the short treatment time. Therefore, the HDR-ICR system is highly recommended for a cancer center, particularly one with a large number of patients to be treated. In order to achieve an improved outcome, however, the optimum dose-fractionation schedule of HDR-ICR and optimum combination of intracavitary irradiation with external beam irradiation should be determined through an extensive protocol.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1999

Purpose : To discuss the technical aspect of interstitial brachytherapy including method of implant, insertion time of radioactive source, total radiation dose, and complication, we reviewed patients who had diagnoses of soft tissue sarcoma and were treated by conservative surgery, interstitial implant and external beam radiation therapy Materials and Methods : Between May 1995 and Dec. 1997, ten patients with primary or recurrent soft tissue sarcoma underwent surgical resection (wide margin excision) and received radiotherapy including interstitial brachytherapy. Catheters were placed with regular intervals of 1 ~l.5 cm immediately after tumor removal and covering the critical structures, such as neurovascular bundle or bone, with gelform, muscle, or tissue expander in the cases where the tumors were close to those structures. Brachytherapy consisted of high dose rate, iridium-192 implant which delivered 12~15 Gy to 1 cm distance from the center of source axis with 2~2.5 Gy/fraction, twice a day, starting on 6th day after the surgery, Within one month after the surgery, total dose of 50~55 Gy was delivered to the tumor bed with wide margin by the external beam radiotherapy. Results : All patients completed planned interstitial brachytherapy without acute side effects directly related with catheter implantation such as infection or bleeding. With median follow up duration of 25 months (range 12~41 months), no local recurrences were observed. And there was no severe form of chronic complication (RTOGIEORTC grade 3 or 4). Conclusion : The high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy is easy and safe way to minimize the radiation dose delivered to the adjacent normal tissue and to decrease radiation induced chronic morbidity such as fibrosis by reducing the total dose of external radiotherapy in the management of soft tissue sarcoma with conservative surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 1976

It has been reported that many of the effects of digitalis glycosides could be mediated partly through the central nervous system. In this study the effects of ouabain given directly into the lateral ventricle of the brain on the renal function of the rabbit were investigated. Intraventricular ouabain elicited antidiuresis in doses ranging from 0.1 to $3\;{\mu}g$, exhibiting a rough dose-response relationship, and decreased the renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate and urinary excretion of sodium and potassium, concomitant with the decrease of urine flow. These decreases in urine flow, excretory rate of electrolytes significantly correlated with the decrease in renal plasma flow or glomerular filtration rate, suggesting that the antidiuresis might have been induced by the hemodynamic changes. Intravenous ouabain in a dose of $1\;{\mu}g$ did not affect the renal function. Systemic blood pressure as well as cardiac activity was not affected by the intraventricular ouabain. Effects of the intraventricular ouabain on renal function were abolished by the intravenous phentolamine-pretreatment but not affected by intraventricular phentolamine-pretreatment. Neither vasopressin infusion nor hydration did affect the renal effects of intraventricular ouabain. From these observations, it is suggested that the antidiuresis of intraventricular ouabain is induced by the increased sympathetic influence to the kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2006

The systolic and diastolic pressures in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley male rats were greatly decreased after single-dose of Cd treatment without significant changes in heart rate. There was a fluid-shift into the third space and/or -loss through the kidney, since plasma $Na^+$ concentration and hematocrit ratio were significantly increased by acute Cd exposure. The present study showed that the sustained hypotensive effect of single-dose Cd on the cardiovascular system might have resulted from the systemic hypovolemia. Furthermore, renal excretion of electrolytes, including $Na^+$ and $K^+$, and urine flow rate were increased by Cd intoxication. Interestingly, the ratio of $Na^+/K^+$ excretion was increased and reached the maximum level 3 hours after Cd injection and returned to the normal level after 7 hours. Nevertheless, there was no difference in the regression analysis of $Na^+$ excretion and urine flow rate in both groups. Therefore, the increase in the urine volume seemed to enhance the excretion of $Na^+$. This study strongly suggest that the hypotensive effect of Cd is mediated by systemic $Na^+$ loss through the kidney and/or hypovolemia via fluid-shift.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 1989

From Feb.1985 to Feb.1988,76 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology in Kyungpook National University Hospital were available for the analysis of this study. All patients received radiation of 4000cGy-6600cGy with curative aim. The overall rate of complete response was 25.0% and partial response was 452.6% The complete and partial regression of tumor was 14.3% in patients treated with dose below 5000cGy and 84.1% in the group treated with dose above 5000cGy (p<0.01). The complete response was seen only in the group of patients received radiation at least 6000cGy. The patterns of failure were as follows. The rate of initial intrathoracic recurrence was 52.6% in patients with complete response. The overall rate of failure was 68.8%. Distant metastasis was found in 47.4% of patients. Bone, contralateral lung, and brain were common metastatic sites in decreasing order All of the distant metastases and 80% of local recurrences were found within the first year after treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-35
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• 2016

Purpose The goal for this study is to figure out that medical staff except Nuclear Medicine Department could be exposed to radiation from the patients who take Nuclear Medicine examination. Materials and Methods Total 250 patients (Bone scan 100, Myocardial SPECT 100, PET/CT 50) were involved from July to October in 2015, and we measured patient dose rate two times for every patients. First, we checked radiation dose rate right after injecting an isotope (radiopharmaceutical). Secondly, we measured radiation dose rate after each examination. Results In the case of Bone scan, dose rate were $0.0278{\pm}0.0036mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0060{\pm}0.0018mSv/h$ after examination (3 hrs 52 minutes after injection on average). For Myocardial SPECT, dose rate were $0.0245{\pm}0.0027mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0123{\pm}0.0041mSv/h$ after examination (2 hrs 09 minutes after injection on average). Lastly, for PET/CT, dose rate were $0.0439{\pm}0.0087mSv/h$ after examination (68 minutes after injection on average). Conclusion Compared to Nuclear Safety Commission Act, there was no significant harmful effect of the exposure from patients who have been administered radiopharmaceuticals. However, we should strive to keep ALARA(as low as reasonably achievable) principle for radiation protection.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.283-293
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• 2002

Purpose : A PC based brachytherapy planning system was developed to display dose distributions on simulation images by 2D isodose curve including the dose profiles, dose-volume histogram and 30 dose distributions. Materials and Methods : Brachytherapy dose planning software was developed especially for the Ir-192 source, which had been developed by KAERI as a substitute for the Co-60 source. The dose computation was achieved by searching for a pre-computed dose matrix which was tabulated as a function of radial and axial distance from a source. In the computation process, the effects of the tissue scattering correction factor and anisotropic dose distributions were included. The computed dose distributions were displayed in 2D film image including the profile dose, 3D isodose curves with wire frame forms and dosevolume histogram. Results : The brachytherapy dose plan was initiated by obtaining source positions on the principal plane of the source axis. The dose distributions in tissue were computed on a $200\times200\;(mm^2)$ plane on which the source axis was located at the center of the plane. The point doses along the longitudinal axis of the source were $4.5\~9.0\%$ smaller than those on the radial axis of the plane, due to the anisotropy created by the cylindrical shape of the source. When compared to manual calculation, the point doses showed $1\~5\%$ discrepancies from the benchmarking plan. The 2D dose distributions of different planes were matched to the same administered isodose level in order to analyze the shape of the optimized dose level. The accumulated dose-volume histogram, displayed as a function of the percentage volume of administered minimum dose level, was used to guide the volume analysis. Conclusion : This study evaluated the developed computerized dose planning system of brachytherapy. The dose distribution was displayed on the coronal, sagittal and axial planes with the dose histogram. The accumulated DVH and 3D dose distributions provided by the developed system may be useful tools for dose analysis in comparison with orthogonal dose planning.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.143-156
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• 2005

Background: The best dose-fractionation regimen of the definitive radiotherapy for cervix cancer remains to be clearly determined. It seems to be partially attributed to the complexity of the affecting factors and the lack of detailed information on external and intra-cavitary fractionation. To find optimal practice guidelines, our experiences of the combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) were reviewed with detailed information of the various treatment parameters obtained from a large cohort of women treated homogeneously at a single institute. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 743 cervical cancer patients (Stage IB 198, IIA 77, IIB 364, IIIA 7, IIIB 89 and IVA 8) treated by radiotherapy alone, between 1990 and 1996. A total external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) dose of $23.4\~59.4$ Gy (Median 45.0) was delivered to the whole pelvis. High-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-IBT) was also peformed using various fractionation schemes. A Midline block (MLB) was initiated after the delivery of $14.4\~43.2$ Gy (Median 36.0) of EBRT in 495 patients, while In the other 248 patients EBRT could not be used due to slow tumor regression or the huge initial bulk of tumor. The point A, actual bladder & rectal doses were individually assessed in all patients. The biologically effective dose (BED) to the tumor ($\alpha/\beta$=10) and late-responding tissues ($\alpha/\beta$=3) for both EBRT and HDR-ICBT were calculated. The total BED values to point A, the actual bladder and rectal reference points were the summation of the EBRT and HDR-ICBT. In addition to all the details on dose-fractionation, the other factors (i.e. the overall treatment time, physicians preference) that can affect the schedule of the definitive radiotherapy were also thoroughly analyzed. The association between MD-BED $Gy_3$ and the risk of complication was assessed using serial multiple logistic regression models. The associations between R-BED $Gy_3$ and rectal complications and between V-BED $Gy_3$ and bladder complications were assessed using multiple logistic regression models after adjustment for age, stage, tumor size and treatment duration. Serial Coxs proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the relative risks of recurrence due to MD-BED $Gy_{10}$, and the treatment duration. Results: The overall complication rate for RTOG Grades $1\~4$ toxicities was $33.1\%$. The 5-year actuarial pelvic control rate for ail 743 patients was $83\%$. The midline cumulative BED dose, which is the sum of external midline BED and HDR-ICBT point A BED, ranged from 62.0 to 121.9 $Gy_{10}$ (median 93.0) for tumors and from 93.6 to 187.3 $Gy_3$ (median 137.6) for late responding tissues. The median cumulative values of actual rectal (R-BED $Gy_3$) and bladder Point BED (V-BED $Gy_3$) were 118.7 $Gy_3$ (range $48.8\~265.2$) and 126.1 $Gy_3$ (range: $54.9\~267.5$), respectively. MD-BED $Gy_3$ showed a good correlation with rectal (p=0.003), but not with bladder complications (p=0.095). R-BED $Gy_3$ had a very strong association (p=<0.0001), and was more predictive of rectal complications than A-BED $Gy_3$. B-BED $Gy_3$ also showed significance in the prediction of bladder complications in a trend test (p=0.0298). No statistically significant dose-response relationship for pelvic control was observed. The Sandwich and Continuous techniques, which differ according to when the ICR was inserted during the EBRT and due to the physicians preference, showed no differences in the local control and complication rates; there were also no differences in the 3 vs. 5 Gy fraction size of HDR-ICBT. Conclusion: The main reasons optimal dose-fractionation guidelines are not easily established is due to the absence of a dose-response relationship for tumor control as a result of the high-dose gradient of HDR-ICBT, individual differences In tumor responses to radiation therapy and the complexity of affecting factors. Therefore, in our opinion, there is a necessity for individualized tailored therapy, along with general guidelines, in the definitive radiation treatment for cervix cancer. This study also demonstrated the strong predictive value of actual rectal and bladder reference dosing therefore, vaginal gauze packing might be very Important. To maintain the BED dose to less than the threshold resulting in complication, early midline shielding, the HDR-ICBT total dose and fractional dose reduction should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2023

Aircrews and passengers are exposed to radiation from cosmic rays and secondary scattered rays generated by reactions with air or aircraft. For aircrews, radiation safety management is based on the exposure dose calculated using a space-weather environment simulation. However, the exposure dose varies depending on solar activity, altitude, flight path, etc., so measuring by route is more suggestive than the calculation. In this study, we developed an instrument to measure the cosmic radiation dose using a general-purpose Si sensor and a multichannel analyzer. The dose calculation applied the algorithm of CRaTER (Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation), a space radiation measuring device of NASA. Energy and dose calibration was performed with Cs-137 662 keV gamma rays at a standard calibration facility, and good dose rate dependence was confirmed in the experimental range. Using the instrument, the dose was directly measured on the international line between Dubai and Incheon in May 2023, and it was similar to the result calculated by KREAM (Korean Radiation Exposure Assessment Model for Aviation Route Dose) within 12%. It was confirmed that the dose increased as the altitude and latitude increased, consistent with the calculation results by KREAM. Some limitations require more verification experiments. However, we confirmed it has sufficient utilization potential as a cost-effective measuring instrument for monitoring exposure dose inside or on personal aircraft.