• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1988

Published data of the efficiency of CR-39 detectors as a function of neutron energy from different laboratories show wide variations in the response obtained. These variations result from differences in etching conditions, in the materials and thickness of the radiator, in the sensitivities of CR-39 from different manufacturers and perhaps in criteria used for the size of spots that are counted. This paper describes some effects of these factors on the energy and angular response with calculational results. Calculated and measured results of the variations of response with neutron incident angie are more consistent than those of energy response. The data calculated show that the angular response is not a strong function of neutron energy except below about 0.3 MeV.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.512-521
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• 1999

A feasibility study was performed to design an epithermal neutron beam for BNCT using the neutron of 2.45 MeV on the average produced from $^2H(d,n)^3$He reaction induced by plasma focus in the z-pinch instead of the conventional accelerator-based $^3H(d, n)^4$He neutron generator. Flux and spectrum were analyzed to use these neutrons as the neutron source for BNCT. Neutronic characteristics of several candidate materials in this neutron source were investigated Using MCNP Code, and $^7LiF$ ; 40%Al + 60%$AIF_3$, and Pb Were determined as moderator, filter, and reflector in an epithermal neutron beam design for BNCT, respectively. The skin-skull-brain ellipsoidal phantom, which consists of homogeneous regions of skin-, bone-, or brain-equivalent material, was used in order to assess the dosimetric effect in brain. An epithermal neutron beam design for BNCT was proposed by the repeated work with MCNP runs, and the dosimetric properties (AD, AR, ADDR, and Dose Components) calculated within the phantom showed that the neutron beam designed in this work is effective in tumor therapy. If the neutron source flux is high enough using the z-pinch plasma, BNCT using the neutron source produced from $^2H(d,n)^3$He reaction will be very feasible.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.255-261
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• 2022

A reliable and well-characterized dosimetry system which is traceable to the international measurement system, is the key element to quality assurance in radiation processing with cobalt-60 gamma rays, X-rays, and electron beam. This is specifically the case for health-regulated processes, such as the radiation sterilization of single use medical devices and food irradiation for preservation and disinfestation. Polyethylene is considered to possess a lot of interesting dosimetric characteristics. In this work, a detailed study has been performed to determine the dosimetric characteristics of a commercialized high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film using Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Correlations have been established between the absorbed dose and radiation induced infrared absorption in polyethylene having a maximum at 965 cm^-1 (transvinylene band) and 1716 cm^-1 (ketone-carbonyl band). We have found that polyethylene dose-response is linear with dose for both bands up to1000 kGy. For transvinylene band, the dose-response is more sensitive if irradiations are made in helium. While, for ketone-carbonyl band, the dose-response is more sensitive when irradiations are carried out in air. The dose-rate effect has been found to be negligible when polyethylene samples are irradiated with electron beam high dose rates. The irradiated polyethylene is relatively stable for several weeks after irradiation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.159-164
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• 2021

Purpose: We investigated the properties of CLEANBOLUS based on silicone with suitable characteristics for clinical use. Methods: We evaluated the characteristics of CLEANBOLUS and compared the results with the commercial product (Super-Flex bolus). Also, we conducted physical evaluations, including shore hardness, element composition, and elongation break. Transparency was investigated through the measured absorbance within the visible region (400-700 nm). Also, dosimetric characteristics were investigated with surface dose and beam quality. Finally, the volume of unwanted air gap was investigated based on computed tomography images for breast, chin, and nose using Super-Flex bolus and CELANBOLUS. Results: CLEANBOLUS showed excellent physical properties for a low shore hardness (000-35) and elongation break (>1,000%). Additionally, it was shown that CLEANBOLUS is more transparent than Super-Flex bolus. Dosimetric results obtained through measurement and calculation have an electron density similar to water in CLEANBOLUS. Finally, CLEANBOLUS showed that the volume of unwanted air gap between the phantom and each bolus is smaller than Super-Flex bolus for breast, chin, and nose. Conclusions: The physical properties of CLEANBOLUS, including excellent adhesive strength and lower shore hardness, reduce unwanted air gaps and ensure accurate dose distribution. Therefore, it would be an alternative to other boluses, thus improving clinical use efficiency.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.270-277
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• 2023

Exposure to ionizing radiation induces free radicals in human nails. These free radicals generate a radiation-induced signal (RIS) in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Compared with the RIS of tooth enamel samples, that in human nails is more affected by moisture and heat, but has the advantages of being sensitive to radiation and easy to collect. The fingernail as a biological sample is applicable in retrospective dosimetry in cases of localized hand exposure accidents. In this study, the dosimetric characteristics of fingernails were analyzed in fingernail clippings collected from Korean donors. The dose response, fading of radiation-induced and mechanically induced signals, treatment method for evaluation of background signal, minimum detectable dose, and minimum detectable mass were investigated to propose a fingernail-EPR dosimetry protocol. In addition, to validate the practicality of the protocol, blind and field experiments were performed in the laboratory and a non-destructive testing facility. The relative biases in the dose assessment result of the blind and field experiments were 8.43% and 21.68% on average between the reference and reconstructed doses. The results of this study suggest that fingernail-EPR dosimetry can be a useful method for the application of retrospective dosimetry in cases of radiological accidents.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2010

This study examined the dosimetric influence of implanted gold markers in proton therapy and the effects of their positions in the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beam. The implanted cylindrical gold markers were 3 mm long and 1.2 mm in diameter. The dosimetric influence of the gold markers was determined with markers at various locations in a proton-beam field. Spatial dose distributions were measured using a three-dimensional moving water phantom and a stereotactic diode detector with an effective diameter of 0.5 mm. Also, a film dosimetry was performed using Gafchromic External Beam Treatment (EBT) film. The GEANT4 simulation toolkit was used for Monte-Carlo simulations to confirm the measurements and to construct the dose-volume histogram with implanting markers. Motion data were obtained from the portal images of 10 patients to investigate the effect of organ motions on the dosimetric influence of markers in the presence of a rectal balloon. The underdosed volume due to a single gold marker, in which the dose was less than 95% of a prescribed amount, was 0.15 cc. The underdosed volume due to the presence of a gold marker is much smaller than the target volume. However, the underdosed volume is inside the gross tumor volume and is not smeared out due to translational prostate motions. The positions of gold markers and the conditions of the proton-beam field give different impacts on the dose distribution of a target with implanted gold markers, and should be considered in all clinical proton-based therapies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2243-2248
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• 2013

Background: To compare the dosimetric coverage of target volumes and organs at risk in the radical treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Materials and Methods: Data from 10 consecutive patients treated with IMRT from June-October 2011 in Penang General Hospital were collected retrospectively for analysis. For each patient, dose volume histograms were generated for both the IMRT and 3DCRT plans using a total dose of 70Gy. Comparison of the plans was accomplished by comparing the target volume coverage (5 measures) and sparing of organs at risk (17 organs) for each patient using both IMRT and 3DCRT. The means of each comparison target volume coverage measures and organs at risk measures were obtained and tested for statistical significance using the paired Student t-test. Results: All 5 measures for target volume coverage showed marked dosimetric superiority of IMRT over 3DCRT. V70 and V66.5 for PTV70 showed an absolute improvement of 39.3% and 24.1% respectively. V59.4 and V56.4 for PTV59.4 showed advantages of 18.4% and 16.4%. Moreover, the mean PTV70 dose revealed a 5.1 Gy higher dose with IMRT. Only 4 out of 17 organs at risk showed statistically significant difference in their means which were clinically meaningful between the IMRT and 3DCRT techniques. IMRT was superior in sparing the spinal cord (less 5.8Gy), V30 of right parotid (less 14.3%) and V30 of the left parotid (less 13.1%). The V55 of the left cochlea was lower with 3DCRT (less 44.3%). Conclusions: IMRT is superior to 3DCRT due to its dosimetric advantage in target volume coverage while delivering acceptable doses to organs at risk. A total dose of 70Gy with IMRT should be considered as a standard of care for radical treatment of NPC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2010

Purpose: This aim of this study is to analyze the dosimetric difference between intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using 3 or 5 beams and MSF in the radiotherapy of the left breast. Materials and Methods: We performed a comparative analysis of two radiotherapy modalities that can achieve improved dose homogeneity. First is the multistatic fields technique that simultaneously uses both major and minor irradiation fields. The other is IMRT, which employs 3 or 5 beams using a fixed multileaf collimator. We designed treatment plans for 16 early left breast cancer patients who had taken breast conservation surgery and radiotherapy, and analyzed them from a dosimetric standpoint. Results: For the mean values of $V_{95}$ and dose homogeneity index, no statistically significant difference was observed among the three therapies. Extreme hot spots receiving over 110% of the prescribed dose were not found in any of the three methods. A Tukey test performed on IMRT showed a significantly larger increase in exposure dose to the ipsilateral lung and heart than multistatic fields technique (MSF) in the low-dose area, but in the high-dose area, MSF showed a slight increase. Conclusion: In order to improve dose homogeneity, the application of MSF, which can be easily planned and applied more widely, is considered an optimal alternative to IMRT for radiotherapy of early left breast cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2011

Purpose: Thoracic radiotherapy is a major treatment modality of stage III non-small cell lung cancer. The normal lung tissue is sensitive to radiation and radiation pneumonitis is the most important dose-limiting complication of thoracic radiation therapy. This study was performed to identify the clinical and dosimetric parameters related to the risk of radiation pneumonitis after definitive radiotherapy in stage III non-small cell cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The medical records were reviewed for 49 patients who completed definitive radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer from August 2000 to February 2010. Radiation therapy was delivered with the daily dose of 1.8 Gy to 2.0 Gy and the total radiation dose ranged from 50.0 Gy to 70.2 Gy (median, 61.2 Gy). Elective nodal irradiation was delivered at a dose of 45.0 Gy to 50.0 Gy. Seven patients (14.3%) were treated with radiation therapy alone and forty two patients (85.7%) were treated with chemotherapy either sequentially or concurrently. Results: Twenty-five cases (51.0%) out of 49 cases experienced radiation pneumonitis. According to the radiation pneumonitis grade, 10 (20.4%) were grade 1, 9 (18.4%) were grade 2, 4 (8.2%) were grade 3, and 2 (4.1%) were grade 4. In the univariate analyses, no clinical factors including age, sex, performance status, smoking history, underlying lung disease, tumor location, total radiation dose and chemotherapy were associated with grade ${\geq}2$ radiation pneumonitis. In the subgroup analysis of the chemotherapy group, concurrent rather than sequential chemotherapy was significantly related to grade ${\geq}2$ radiation pneumonitis comparing sequential chemotherapy. In the univariate analysis with dosimetric factors, mean lung dose (MLD), $V_{20}$, $V_{30}$, $V_{40}$, MLDipsi, $V_{20}$ipsi, $V_{30}$ipsi, and $V_{40}$ipsi were associated with grade ${\geq}2$ radiation pneumonitis. In addition, multivariate analysis showed that MLD and V30 were independent predicting factors for grade ${\geq}2$ radiation pneumonitis. Conclusion: Concurrent chemotherapy, MLD and $V_{30}$ were statistically significant predictors of grade ${\geq}2$ radiation pneumonitis in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer undergoing definitive radiotherapy. The cutoff values for MLD and $V_{30}$ were 16 Gy and 18%, respectively.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 2013

Purpose: To report the results of dosimetric comparison between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using Tomotherapy and four-box field conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for pelvic irradiation of locally advanced rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received a short course preoperative chemoradiotherapy (25 Gy in 5 fractions) on the pelvis using Tomotherapy, between July 2010 and December 2010, were selected. Using their simulation computed tomography scans, Tomotherapy and four-box field CRT plans with the same dose schedule were evaluated, and dosimetric parameters of the two plans were compared. For the comparison of target coverage, we analyzed the mean dose, $V_{nGy}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{max}$, radical dose homogeneity index (rDHI), and radiation conformity index (RCI). For the comparison of organs at risk (OAR), we analyzed the mean dose. Results: Tomotherapy showed a significantly higher mean target dose than four-box field CRT (p = 0.001). But, $V_{26.25Gy}$ and $V_{27.5Gy}$ were not significantly different between the two modalities. Tomotherapy showed higher $D_{max}$ and lower $D_{min}$. The Tomotherapy plan had a lower rDHI than four-box field CRT (p = 0.000). Tomotherapy showed better RCI than four-box field CRT (p = 0.007). For OAR, the mean irradiated dose was significantly lower in Tomotherapy than four-box field CRT. Conclusion: In locally advanced rectal cancer, Tomotherapy delivers a higher conformal radiation dose to the target and reduces the irradiated dose to OAR than four-box field CRT.