• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2017

We develop guidelines for the quality assurance of radiation treatment planning systems (TPS) by comparing and reviewing recommendations from major countries and organizations, as well as by analyzing the AAPM, ESTRO, and IAEA TPS quality assurance guidelines. We establish quality assurance items for acceptance testing, commissioning, periodic testing, system management, and security, and propose methods to perform each item within acceptable standards. Acceptance includes tests of hardware and network environments, data transmission, software, and benchmarking as specified by the system supplier, and apply the IAEA classification criteria. Commissioning includes dosimetric and non-dosimetric items for assessing TPS performance by applying the AAPM classification criteria and the latest technical items from the IAEA. Periodic quality assurance tests include daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and occasional items by applying the AAPM classification criteria. System management and security items include the state and network connectivity of TPS, periodic data backup, and data access security. The guidelines for TPS quality assurance proposed in this study will help to improve the safety and quality of radiotherapy by preventing incidents related to radiotherapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.524-528
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• 2001

The measurement of radiation response using simple and informative techniques would be of great value in studying the genetic risk following occupational, therapeutic, or accidental exposure to radiation. When patients receive radiation therapy, many suffer from side effects. Since each patient receives a different dose due to different physical conditions, it is important to measure the exact dose of radiation received by each patient to lessen the side effects. Even though several biological dosimetric systems have already been developed, there is no ideal system that can satisfy all the criteria for an idean dosimetric system, especially for low-dose radiation as used in radiation therapy. In this study, an SOS Chromotest of E. coli PQ37 was evaluated as a novel dosimeter for low-dose gamma-rays. E. coli PQ37 was originally developed to screen chemical mutagens using the SOS Chromotest-a colorimtric assay, based on the induction of ${\beta}$-galactosidase ue to DNA damage. The survival fraction of E. coli PQ37 decreased dose-dependently with an increasing dose of cobalt-60 gamma-rays. Also, a good linear correlation was found between the biological damage revealed by the ${\beta}$-galactosidase expression and the doses of gamma-rays. The expression of ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity that responded to low-dose radiation under 1 Gy was $Y=0.404+(0.089{\pm}0.3)D+(-0.018{\pm}0.16)D^2$ (Y, absorbance at 420 nm; D, Dose of irradiation) as calculated using Graph Pad In Plot and Excel. When a rabbit was fed with capsules containing an agar block embdded with E. coli PQ37 showed a linear response to the radiation doses. Accordingly, the results confirm that E. coli PQ37 can be used as a sensitive biological dosimeter fro cobalt-60 gamma-rays. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a bacterium has been used as a biological dosimeter, especially for low-dose radiation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1986

Dosimetric quantities for 300 keV neutrons in the ICRU standard tissue sphere were evaluated. The Monte Carlo code NEDEP which performs neutron-photon-charged particles coupled transport was used in the direct estimation of absorbed dose and dose equivalent. Some important quantities calculated are as follows; Deep dose equivalent index $H_{I,d}:1.78{\times}10^{11}\;Sv-cm^2$ Shallow dose equivalent index $H_{I,s}:2.08{\times}10^{-11}\;Sv-cm^2$ Ambient dose equivalent $H^*(0.07):1.7{\times}10^{-11}\;Sv-cm^2$ Ambient dose equivalent $H^*(10):1.78{\times}10^{-11}\;Sv-cm^2$ Effective quality factor $\bar{Q}^*(10):12.4$

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2017

This study aims to analyze dose distribution and treatment time of endobronchial brachytherapy (EBBT) by changing the position step size of the dwell position. A solid water phantom and an intraluminal catheter were used in the treatment plan. The treatment plans were generated for 3, 5, 7, and 10 cm treatment lengths, respectively. For each treatment length, the source position step sizes were set as 2.5, 5, and 10 mm. Three reference points were set 1 cm away from the central axis of the catheter, along the axis, for uniform dose distribution. Volumetric dose distribution was calculated to evaluate the dosimetric effect. The total radiation delivery time and total dwell time were estimated for treatment efficiency, which were increased with position step sizes. At half-life time, the differences between the position step sizes in the total radiation delivery time were 18.1, 15.4, 18.0, and 24.0 s for 3, 5, 7, and 10 cm treatment lengths, respectively. The dose distributions were more homogenous by increasing the position step sizes. The dose difference of the reference point was less than 10%. In brachytherapy, this difference can be negligible. For EBBT, the treatment time is the key factor while considering the patient status. To reduce the total treatment time, EBBT can be performed with 2.5 mm position step size.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4233-4235
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• 2016

Background: Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery were frequently used to palliate patients with brain metastases. It remains controversial which modality or combination of therapy is superior especially in the setting of limited number of brain metastases. The availability of newer medical therapy that improves survival highlighted the importance of reducing long term radiation toxicity associated with WBRT. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the hippocampal sparing technique with whole brain and integrated simultaneous boost Materials and Methods: Planning data from 10 patients with 1-5 brain metastases treated with SRS were identified. Based on the contouring guideline from RTOG atlas, we identified and contoured the hippocampus with 5mm isocentric expansion to form the hippocampal avoidance structure. The plan was to deliver hippocampal sparing whole brain radiotherapy (HSWBRT) of 30 Gy in 10 fractions and simultaneous boost to metastatic lesions of 30 Gy in 10 fractions each. Results: The PTV, hippocampus and hippocampal avoidance volumes ranges between 1.00 - 39.00 cc., 2.50 - 5.30 cc and 26.47 - 36.30 cc respectively. The mean hippocampus dose for the HSWBRT and HSWBRT and SIB plans was 8.06 Gy and 12.47 respectively. The max dose of optic nerve, optic chiasm and brainstem were kept below acceptable range of 37.5 Gy. Conclusions: The findings from this dosimetric study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of treating limited brain metastases with HSWBRT and SIB. It is possible to achieve the best of both worlds by combining HSWBRT and SIB to achieve maximal local intracranial control while maintaining as low a dose as possible to the hippocampus thereby preserving memory and quality of life.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2010

In projection radiography, two types of digital imaging systems are currently available, computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR): a difference between them can be stated in terms of dose and image quality. In the Department of Radiology our hospital, a flat-panel DR equipment (Digital diagnost, Philips) and two CR systems (ADC Compact plus digitizer, AGFA) are employed. Eight standard radiographic examinations (Skull AP, Skull LAT, Chest PA, Chest LAT, Abdomen AP, L-spine AP, L-spine LAT, Pelvis AP) were considered: doses delivered to patients in terms of both entrance skin dose (ESD) were calculated and compared in order to study the dosimetric discrepancies between CR and DR. Assessment of image quality is undertaken by Consultant Radiologists to ensure that the quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images of the European guidelines were met. Results showed that both ESD in DR are lower than that in CR; all images met the criteria in the European Guidelines for both modalities and were used for reporting by the radiologists. Since the operators are the same and the image quality is comparable in both modalities, this study shows that in the considered examinations, DR can perform better than CR from a dosimetric point of view.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 1989

A radiation beam incident on an irregular or sloping surface produces the non-uniformity of absorded dose. The use of a tissue compensator can partially correct this dose inhomogeneity. The tissue compensator is designed based on the patient's three dimensional contour. After required compensator thickness was determined according to tissue deficit at $25cm\pm25cm$ field size, 10cm depth for 6MV x-rays, tissue deficit was mapped by isoheight technique using laser beam system. Compensator was constructed along the designed model using 0.8mm lead sheet or 5mm acryl plate. Dosimetric verification were peformed by film dosimetry using humanoid phantom. Dosimetric measurements were normalized to central axis full phantom readings for both compensated and non-compensated field. Without compensation, the percent differences in absorbed dose ranged as high as $12.1\%$ along transverse axis, $10.8\%$ along vertical axis. With the tissue compensators in place, the difference was reduced to $0\~43\%$ Therefore, it can be concluded that the compensator system constructed by isoheihnt technique can produce good dose distribution with acceptible inhomogeneity, and such compensator system can be effectively applied to clinical radiotherapy.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2011

The intercomparison exercise on internal dose assessment has been carried out for the purpose of the evaluation for harmonization of internal dosimetry between the nuclear-related institutes in Korea. The exercises of 9 items on internal dose assessment have been developed for the unknown internal dosimetric parameters such as the intake pathway, absorption type, AMAD, and intake time of a radionuclide. Solutions to these exercises were reported by 7 participants from 5 institutes. The range of the ratio between the individual values and the geometric mean value of the evaluated doses for the exercises was $5.75{\times}10^{-4}$ ~ 9.81. But without the extreme partial solution, the range of the ratio was 0.216 ~ 3.12.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of our study was to compare the dosimetric advantages of Flattening filter free (FFF) beams for trigeminal neuralgia patients using 4 mm conical collimators over previously treated patients with 6 MV SRS beam. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for 5 TN patients who had been previously treated at our institution using frame-based, LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on Novalis Tx using 6 MV SRS beam were replanned on 6X FFF beams on Edge Linear accelerator with same beam angles and dose constraints using 4 mm conical collimator. The total number of monitor units along with the beam on time was compared for both Edge and Novalis Tx by redelivering the plans in QA mode of LINAC to compare the delivery efficiency. Plan quality was evaluated by homogeneity index (HI) and Paddick gradient index (GI) for each plan. We also analyzed the doses to brainstem and organ at risks (OARs). Results and Discussion: A 28% beam-on time reduction was achieved using 6X FFF when compared with 6X SRS beam of Novalis Tx. A sharp dose fall off with gradient index value of $3.4{\pm}0.27$ for 4 mm Varian conical collimator while $4.17{\pm}0.20$ with BrainLab cone. Among the 5 patients treated with a 4 mm cone, average maximum brainstem dose was 10.24 Gy for Edge using 6X FFF and 14.28 Gy for Novalis Tx using 6X SRS beam. Conclusion: The use of FFF beams improves delivery efficiency and conical collimator reduces dose to OAR's for TN radiosurgery. Further investigation is warranted with larger sample patient data.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.354-359
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to verify the dosimetric effect on real PTV (planning target volume) coverage and safety of OARs (organs at risk) at various image fusion protocol-based radiosurgery plan for pituitary adenomas. Real PTV coverage and its variation was acquired and maximum dose and the volume absorbing above threshold dose were also measured for verifying the safety of optic pathway and brainstem. The protocol that can reduce superior-inferior uncertainty by using both axial and coronal MR (magnetic resonance) image sets shows relatively lower values than that of case using only axial image sets. As a result, the image fusion protocol with both axial and coronal image sets can be beneficial to generate OAR-weighted radiosurgery plan.