• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.158-163
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• 2022

Purpose: We subjected scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the active layer of EBT3 film to texture analysis to determine the dose-response curve. Methods: Uncoated Gafchromic EBT3 films were prepared for direct surface SEM scanning. Absorbed doses of 0-20 Gy were delivered to the film's surface using a 6 MV TrueBeam STx photon beam. The film's surface was scanned using a SEM under 100× and 3,000× magnification. Four textural features (Homogeneity, Correlation, Contrast, and Energy) were calculated based on the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) using the SEM images corresponding to each dose. We used R-square to evaluate the linear relationship between delivered doses and textural features of the film's surface. Results: Correlation resulted in higher linearity and dose-response curve sensitivity than Homogeneity, Contrast, or Energy. The R-square value was 0.964 for correlation using 3,000× magnified SEM images with 9-pixel offsets. Dose verification was used to determine the difference between the prescribed and measured doses for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy as 0.09, 1.96, -2.29, 0.17, and 0.08 Gy, respectively. Conclusions: Texture analysis can be used to accurately convert microscopic structural changes to the EBT3 film's surface into absorbed doses. Our proposed method is feasible and may improve the accuracy of film dosimetry used to protect patients from excess radiation exposure.

• 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.28 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

This study was designed to measure transit dose with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in eight patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and to verify the accuracy of dose delivery to patients. The calculated dose map of the treatment planning system (TPS) was compared with the EPID based dose measured on the same plane with a gamma index method. The plan for each patient was verified prior to treatment with a diode array (MapCHECK) and portal dose image prediction (PDIP). To simulate possible patient positioning errors during treatment, outcomes were evaluated after an anthropomorphic phantom was displaced 5 and 10 mm in various directions. Based on 3%/3 mm criteria, the $mean{\pm}SD$ passing rates of MapCHECK, PDIP (pre-treatment QA) for 47 IMRT were $99.8{\pm}0.1%$, $99.0{\pm}0.7%$, and, respectively. Besides, passing rates using transit dosimetry was $90.0{\pm}1.5%$ for the same condition. Setup errors of 5 and 10 mm reduced the mean passing rates by 1.3% and 3.0% (inferior to superior), 2.2% and 4.3% (superior to inferior), 5.9% and 10.9% (left to right), and 8.9% and 16.3% (right to left), respectively. These findings suggest that the transit dose-based IMRT verification method using EPID, in which the transit dose from patients is compared with the dose map calculated from the TPS, may be useful in verifying various errors including setup and/or patient positioning error, inhomogeneity and target motions.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1998

Accurate radiation dosimetric characters is very important to determine of dose to a radiotherapeutic patient. Medical linear accelerators have been developed not only its new quality of convenient operation but also electric moderation. It is reliable to measure more detail physical parameter that linac's internal ability. Typically, radiation dosimetric tool is classified ionization chamber, film, thermoluminescence dosimeter, etc. Nowaday, Electronic Portal Imaging Device is smeared in radiation field to verification of treatment region. EPID's image was focused that using both on-line image verification and absolutely minimum absorbed dose during radiotherapy. So, Electronic Portal Imaging was tested for quality evaluation of medical linear accelerator had its pure conditional flash. This study has performed symmetry, Light/Radiation field congruence, and energy check, geometry difference on wedge filter using a liquid filled ion chamber (EPID). Prior to irradiated on EPID, high energy photon beam is checked with ion chamber. Using these results more convenient dosimetric method is accomplished by EPID that taken digital image. Medical image is acquired with EPID too. Therefore, EPID can be analyzed by numerical information for what want to see or get more knowledge for natural human condition.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2007

The propose of this study is a verification of the correct calculation of the dose around source and the prescription dose of Ir-192 source in the plato treatment planning system. The source and orthogonal coordinates for lateral direction and those for the anterior posterior direction were drawn on a A4 paper and then input into the system. The prescription dose was prescribed to two points with radius 1 cm in the direction of polar angle $90^{\circ} and $270^{\circ} from the center of the source. The doses of prescription point and dose points acquired from the treatment planning system were compared with those from manual calculation using the geometry function formalism derived by Paul King et al. In this analysis, the doses of prescription point were exactly consistent with each other and those of dose points were obtained within the error point of 1.85%. And the system of accuracy was evaluated within 2% of tolerance error. Therefore, this manual dose calculation used for the geometry function formalism is considered to be useful in clinics due to its convenience and high quality assurance.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.181-189
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• 2017

The conventional delivery quality assurance (DQA) process for RapidArc (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA), has the limitation that it measures and analyzes the dose in a phantom material and cannot analyze the dosimetric changes under the motional organ condition. In this study, a DQA method was designed to overcome the limitations of the conventional DQA process for internal target volume (ITV) based RapidArc. The dynamic DQA measurement device was designed with a moving phantom that can simulate variable target motions. The dose distribution in the real volume of the target and organ-at-risk (OAR)s were reconstructed using 3DVH with the ArcCHECK (SunNuclear, Melbourne, USA) measurement data under the dynamic condition. A total of 10 ITV-based RapidArc plans for liver-cancer patients were analyzed with the designed dynamic DQA process. The average pass rate of gamma evaluation was $81.55{\pm}9.48%$ when the DQA dose was measured in the respiratory moving condition of the patient. Appropriate method was applied to correct the effect of moving phantom structures in the dose calculation, and DVH data of the real volume of target and OARs were created with the recalculated dose by the 3DVH program. We confirmed the valid dose coverage of a real target volume in the ITV-based RapidArc. The variable difference of the DVH of the OARs showed that dose variation can occur differently according to the location, shape, size and motion range of the target. The DQA process devised in this study can effectively evaluate the DVH of the real volume of the target and OARs in a respiratory moving condition in addition to the simple verification of the accuracy of the treatment machine. This can be helpful to predict the prognosis of treatment by the accurate dose analysis in the real target and OARs.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.143-153
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• 2018

Background: The determination of the amount of radionuclides and internal dose for the worker who may have intake of radionuclides results in a variation due to uncertainty of measurement data and ingestion information. As a result of this, it is possible that for the same internal exposure scenario assessors could make considerably different estimation of internal dose. In order to reduce this difference, internal exposure scenarios for nuclear facilities were developed, and intercomparison were made to determine the harmonization of dose assessment results among the assessors. Materials and Methods: Seven cases on internal exposures incidents that have occurred or may occur were prepared by referring to the intercomparison excercise scenario that NRC and IAEA have carried out. Based on this, 16 nuclear facilities concerned with internal exposure in Korea were asked to evaluate the scenarios. Each result was statistically determined according to the harmonization discrimination criteria developed by IDEAS/IAEA. Results and Discussion: The results were evaluated as having no outliers in all 7 cases. However, the distribution of the results was spread by various causes. They can be divided into two wide categories. The first one is the distribution of the results according to the assumption of the intake factors and the evaluation factors. The second one is distribution due to misapplication of calculation method and factors related to internal exposure. Conclusion: In order to satisfy the harmonization criteria and accuracy of the internal exposure dose evaluation, it is necessary that exact guidelines should be set on low dose, and various intercomparison cases also be needed including high dose exposure as well as the specialized education. The aim of the blind test is to make harmonization evaluation, but it will also contribute to securing the expertise and high quality of dose evaluation data through the discussion among the participants.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2020

Purpose: In ionization-chamber dosimetry for high-dose-rate electron beams-above 20 mGy/pulse-the ion-recombination correction methods recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) are not appropriate, because they overestimate the correction factor. In this study, we suggest a practical ion-recombination correction method, based on Boag's improved model, and apply it to reference dosimetry for electron beams of about 100 mGy/pulse generated from an electron linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods: This study employed a theoretical model of the ion-collection efficiency developed by Boag and physical parameters used by Laitano et al. We recalculated the ion-recombination correction factors using two-voltage analysis and obtained an empirical fitting formula to represent the results. Next, we compared the calculated correction factors with published results for the same calculation conditions. Additionally, we performed dosimetry for electron beams from a 6 MeV electron LINAC using an Advanced Markus^® ionization chamber to determine the reference dose in water at the source-to-surface distance (SSD)=100 cm, using the correction factors obtained in this study. Results: The values of the correction factors obtained in this work are in good agreement with the published data. The measured dose-per-pulse for electron beams at the depth of maximum dose for SSD=100 cm was 115 mGy/pulse, with a standard uncertainty of 2.4%. In contrast, the k_s values determined using the IAEA and AAPM methods are, respectively, 8.9% and 8.2% higher than our results. Conclusions: The new method based on Boag's improved model provides a practical method of determining the ion-recombination correction factors for high dose-per-pulse radiation beams up to about 120 mGy/pulse. This method can be applied to electron beams with even higher dose-per-pulse, subject to independent verification.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2021

This paper is to establish a basis for a dose reduction strategy by confirming correlations with the factors that may affect the radiation dose based on the dose records in low-dose chest CT and abdominal non-contrast CT. In order to find out the causes of unnecessary exposure, the correlation between seven factors (age, gender, height, weight, BMI, patient status [inpatient and outpatient], and use of dose modulation) and CT dose were identified. Logistic regression was used as the statistical analysis for correlation verification. In the low dose chest CT, as the higher values of height and BMI and dose modulation off were associated with lowering the risk exceeding Diagnostic Reference Levels(DRL) (odds ration<1, p<0.05). However, as woman compared to man and the higher values of weight were associated with highering the risk exceeding DRL (odds ration>1, p<0.05). In the abdomen CT, as dose modulation off were associated with lowering the risk exceeding DRL (odds ration<1, p<0.05). Therefore It is necessary to conduct research on the relationship between various factors affecting radiation exposure and patient radiation dose for reducing the dose.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.543-558
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• 2023

Currently, Japan is undertaking a nationwide project to measure and map radioactive contamination around Fukushima, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy following the nuclear accident. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages the Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, located approximately 20 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Minamisōma City, Fukushima Prefecture. In collaboration with the JAEA, this study involved conducting comparison experiments and analyses with radiation detectors in high radiation environments, a challenging task in Korean environments. Environmental radiation surveys were conducted using three types of detectors: CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr₃(Ce), across two contaminated areas. Dose rate values were converted using dose rate conversion factors for each detector type, and dose rate maps were subsequently created and compared. The detectors yielded similar results, demonstrating their feasibility and reliability in high radiation environments. The findings of this study are expected to be a crucial reference for enhancing the verification and supplementation of procedures and methods in future radiation measurements and mobile surveys in high-radiation environments, using these three types of radiation instruments.