• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 1999

In this paper, as a preliminary study for developing a full 3D electron dose calculation algorithm, We developed 2.5D electron dose calculation algorithm by extending 2D pencil-beam model to consider three dimensional geometry such as air-gap and obliquity appropriately. The dose calculation algorithm was implemented using the IDL5.2(Research Systems Inc., USA), For calculation of the Hogstrom's pencil-beam algorithm, the measured data of the central-axis depth-dose for 12 MeV(Siemens M6740) and the linear stopping power and the linear scattering power of water and air from ICRU report 35 was used. To evaluate the accuracy of the implemented program, we compared the calculated dose distribution with the film measurements in the three situations; the normal incident beam, the 45$^{\circ}$ oblique incident beam, and the beam incident on the pit-shaped phantom. As results, about 120 seconds had been required on the PC (Pentium III 450MHz) to calculate dose distribution of a single beam. It needs some optimizing methods to speed up the dose calculation. For the accuracy of dose calculation, in the case of the normal incident beam of the regular and irregular shaped field, at the rapid dose gradient region of penumbra, the errors were within $\pm$3 mm and the dose profiles were agreed within 5%. However, the discrepancy between the calculation and the measurement were about 10% for the oblique incident beam and the beam incident on the pit-shaped phantom. In conclusions, we expended 2D pencil-beam algorithm to take into account the three dimensional geometry of the patient. And also, as well as the dose calculation of irregular field, the irregular shaped body contour and the air-gap could be considered appropriately in the implemented program. In the near future, the more accurate algorithm will be implemented considering inhomogeneity correction using CT, and at that time, the program can be used as a tool for educational and research purpose. This study was supported by a grant (＃HMP-98-G-1-016) of the HAN(Highly Advanced National) Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, R.O.K.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2006

Purpose : To estimate the dose to the embryo/fetus of a pregnant patient with brain tumors, and to design an shielding device to keep the embryo/fetus dose under acceptable levels Materials and Methods : A shielding wall with the dimension of 1.55 m height, 0.9 m width, and 30 m thickness is fabricated with 4 trolleys under the wall. It is placed between a Patient and the treatment head of a linear accelerator to attenuate the leakage radiation effectively from the treatment head, and is placed 1 cm below the lower margin of the treatment field in order to minimize the dose to a patient from the treatment head. An anti-patient scattering neck supporters with 2 cm thick Cerrobend metal is designed to minimize the scattered radiation from the treatment fields, and it is divided into 2 section. They are installed around the patient neck by attach from right and left sides. A shielding bridge for anti-room scattered radiation is utilized to place 2 sheets of 3 mm lead plates above the abdomen to setup three detectors under the lead sheets. Humanoid phantom is irradiated with the same treatment parameters, and with and without shielding devices using TLD, and ionization chambers with and without a build-up cap. Results : The dose to the embryo/fetus without shielding was 3.20, 3.21, 1.44, 0.90 cGy at off-field distances of 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm. With shielding, the dose to embryo/fetus was reduced to 0.88, 0.60, 0.35, 0.25 cGy, and the ratio of the shielding effect varied from 70% to 80%. TLD results were 1.8, 1.2, 0.8, 1.2, and 0.8 cGy. The dose measured by the survey meter was 10.9 mR/h at the patient's surface of abdomen. The dose to the embryo/fetus was estimated to be about 1 cGy during the entire treatment. Conclusion : According to the AAPM Report No 50 regarding the dose limit of the embryo/fetus during the pregnancy, the dose to the embryo/fetus with little risk is less than 5 cGy. Our measurements satisfy the recommended values. Our shielding technique was proven to be acceptable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.482-496
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• 2016

Algal blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green Algae) due to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes can cause not only the damage by its biological toxins but also the economic loss in drinking water treatment. The natural algae coagulant, a commercial product known as W.H. containing the algicidal and allelopathic material derived from oak, can control algal problems proactively through the coagulation flotation process. However, because there have been no applications of the process for pre-treatment in drinking water plants, we could find no report on the optimum injection dose of W.H.. In this study, we have conducted several sets of jar-tests while changing W.H. dose and concentration of chl-a for (1) Han-river samples and (2) subcultured cyanobacteria samples, and monitored the removal mechanisms of algae intensively. Based on these jar-test results, two linear equations with variables of chl-a and turbidity have been deduced to predict the optimal W.H. dose after the multiple regression analysis using IBM-SPSS. Also, prototypes of automatic control logic have been suggested to inject the optimal W.H. dose promptly in response to the variation of water quality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5019-5024
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the dosimetric and clinical feasibility of volumetric modulated arc based hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (RapidArc) treatment for large acoustic schwannoma (AS >10cc). Materials and Methods: Ten AS patients were immobilized using BrainLab mask. They were subject to multimodality imaging (magnetic resonance and computed tomography) to contour target and organs at risk (brainstem and cochlea). Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) based stereotactic plans were optimized in Eclipse (V11) treatment planning system (TPS) using progressive resolution optimizer-III and final dose calculations were performed using analytical anisotropic algorithm with 1.5 mm grid resolution. All AS presented in this study were treated with VMAT based HSRT to a total dose of 25Gy in 5 fractions (5fractions/week). VMAT plan contains 2-4 non-coplanar arcs. Treatment planning was performed to achieve at least 99% of PTV volume (D99) receives 100% of prescription dose (25Gy), while dose to OAR's were kept below the tolerance limits. Dose-volume histograms (DVH) were analyzed to assess plan quality. Treatments were delivered using upgraded 6 MV un-flattened photon beam (FFF) from Clinac-iX machine. Extensive pretreatment quality assurance measurements were carried out to report on quality of delivery. Point dosimetry was performed using three different detectors, which includes CC13 ion-chamber, Exradin A14 ion-chamber and Exradin W1 plastic scintillator detector (PSD) which have measuring volume of $0.13cm^3$, $0.009cm^3$ and $0.002cm^3$ respectively. Results: Average PTV volume of AS was 11.3cc (${\pm}4.8$), and located in eloquent areas. VMAT plans provided complete PTV coverage with average conformity index of 1.06 (${\pm}0.05$). OAR's dose were kept below tolerance limit recommend by American Association of Physicist in Medicine task group-101(brainstem $V_{0.5cc}$ < 23Gy, cochlea maximum < 25Gy and Optic pathway <25Gy). PSD resulted in superior dosimetric accuracy compared with other two detectors (p=0.021 for PSD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.813-818
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• 2014

Aims: To describe our institutional experience with high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) compared with previously reported results on the low dose rate (LDR) practice for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with oral cavity (n=70) or oropharyngeal cancer (n=14) were treated with 192Ir HDR-IBT. Seventy-eight patients had stage I or II tumour. The patients treated with IBT alone (n=42) received 39-42 Gy/10-14 fractions (median=40 Gy/10 fractions). With respect to the combination therapy group (n=42), prescription dose comprised of 12-18 Gy/3-6 fractions (median=15 Gy/5 fractions) for IBT and 40-50 Gy/20-25 fractions (median=50 Gy/25 fractions) for external radiotherapy. Brachytherapy was given as 2 fractions per day 6 hours apart with 4 Gy per fraction for monotherapy and 3 Gy per fraction for combination therapy. Results: Four patients were not evaluable in the analysis of outcome. The primary site relapse rates were 23.8% (10/42) and 68.4% (26/38) in patients treated with IBT alone and combination therapy, respectively (p<0.001). Salvage surgery was performed in 19 patients. The 5-year local control rate was estimated at 62% and the disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 52% for all patients. Local control with respect to T1 and T2 tumours was 84% and 42%, respectively. Conclusions: Our present series on HDR-IBT and the previous report on LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer demonstrated similar DFS rates at 5 years (52%). The rate of regional failure in node-negative patients was <20% in both of our series. HDR-IBT offers similar results to LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1999

There is necessity for making a smaller and more sensitive detector in small field sizes. This report assesses the suitability of metal-loaded thermoluminescent dosimeters for this purpose. Measurements were performed in the 6 MV photon and 6 MeV electron beams of a medical linear accelerator with LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD-100) embedded in solid water phantom. TLD-100 chips(surface area 3.2 $\times$ 3.2 $\textrm{mm}^2$) loaded with a metal plate(Tin or gold respectively) were used to enhance dose readings to TLD-100. Surface dose was measured for field size 10 $\times$ 10 $\textrm{cm}^2$ and 100 em SSD. Measurements have been made of the enhanced signal intensity and good linearity for absorbed dose with each metal. Using a 1 mm each metal on TLD-l00 in the beam increased the surface dose to 14% and 56% respectively for 6MV photon. In the case of 6 MeV electron, gold plate enhanced the TL response to 13%, but there is no difference for tin plate. The specific dose response of TLD-100 with thin metal plate increases with electron concentration of metal film, this is most likely due to increased electron scattered from the additional material with electron density higher than TLD-100. This emphasizes the role of TL dosimeters with metal as amplified dosimeters for therapeutic high energy x-ray beams. Due to the enhanced dose reading of TLD-100 with metal plate, it could be possible to develop smaller TL dosimeter with high sensitivity.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2007

Although Gamma Knife irradiates much more radiation in a single session than conventional radiotherapy, there were only a few studies to measure absolute dose of a Gamma Knife. Especially, there is no report of application of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) TRS-398 which requires to use a water phantom in radiation measurement to Gamma Knife. In this article, the authors reported results of the experiments to measure the absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife Model C using the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. The absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife model C was measured using a water phantom under conditions as close as possible to the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. The obtained results were compared with values measured using the plastic phantom provided by the Gamma Knife manufacturer. Two Capintec PR-05P mini-chambers and a PTW UNIDOS electrometer were used in measurements. The absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife model C inside the water phantom was 1.38% larger than that of the plastic phantom. The current protocol provided by the manufacturer has an intrinsic error stems from the fact that a plastic phantom is used instead of a water phantom. In conclusion, it is not possible to fully apply IAEA TRS-398 to measurement of absorbed dose of a Gamma Knife. Instead, it can be a practical choice to build a new protocol for Gamma Knife or to provide a conversion factor from a water phantom to the plastic phantom. The conversion factor can be obtained in one or two standard laboratories.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2005

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of the handmade patient immobilization device and to report the clinical results of it. Materials and methods : We made two fusion images and analyzed those images. One image is made with diagnostic MR image and CT image, the other with therapeutic planning MR image and CT image. With open head holder, we measured the skin dose and attenuation dose. Also, we made the planning CT couch plate with acrylic plate and styrofoam and compared artifact. Results : We could get more accurate fusion image when we use MR head holder(within 2mm error). The skin dose was reduced 2 times and the attenuation dose was reduced more than $20\%$ when open head holder used. The planning CT couch plate was more convenient than conventional board and reduced artifact remarkably. Conclusion : We could verify the localization point in the MR image which is taken with MR head holder. So we could fuse the image more accurately. The same method could be applied to PET and US image, if the alike immobilization device used. With open head holder, the skin dose and the attenuation dose was reduced. And those above devices could substitute for expensive foreign device, if those are manufactured adequately.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2018

Endocrine disruptors have been concerned in toxicology but now challenged as physiological point especially concerned with exposing dose and period. In this study the low-dose chronic administration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthaltae (DEHP) during reproductive period was examined to evaluate the possible roles. Adult male and female CD-1 mice were exposed to DEHP with drinking water containing $133{\mu}g/L$ and $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP in water according to OECD 433 guide line and sacrificed just after weaning. The weights of uterus and ovary were decreased by drinking of $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. There was not adverse effects on either accumulated mating rate and mating rate depend on estrus stage, pregnancy duration, and sex ration at birth. However, the accumulated rate of successful delivery and litter size were significantly high at $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. The number of epididymal sperm was significantly increased by drinking of $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water. In addition, the number of follicles (primary, secondary, tertiary) were more many than control at $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP water drunk mother. Though further studies are needed to identify what are the mechanism of DEHP in folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. From this study we firstly report the effect of low-dose chronic administration of DEHP with drinking could change the ovarian follicle population size and spermatogenesis rate. Put together, those finding is different from previous high-dose effects and suggest the physiological role of DEHP in gonads and uterus.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.204-213
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• 2022

Background: The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant increased the level of anxiety related to the radioactive contamination of various foods sourced in Japan. Particularly, after the accident, the detection of artificial radionuclides in locally produced foods raised food safety concerns. In this study, the radioactivity concentrations and annual ingestions of ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs in food products commonly and frequently consumed by the general public were investigated, and the annual effective dose of each was evaluated. Materials and Methods: The 2016-2018 data from the Radiation Safety Management Report released by the Korea Nuclear Safety Technology Center was referenced for the evaluation of the amounts of ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs contained in food. Using the food-ingestion survey mentioned above as a reference, we selected 62 foods to include in our radioactivity concentration and dose assessment. We also developed a questionnaire and evaluated the responses from the subjects who answered the questionnaire. Results and Discussion: The radioactivity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs was found to be close to or below the level of minimum detectable activity. Additionally, the annual ingestion of 62 foods was 294.77 kg/yr, the effective doses from ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were 136.4 and 0.163 μSv/yr, respectively. Conclusion: Thus, the findings confirmed that the effective dose from ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs in food tends to be lower than the effective dose limit of 1 mSv/yr suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 60. The questionnaire developed in this study is expected to be useful for estimating the annual effective dose status of Korean adults who consume foods containing ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs.