• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.297-302
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 최신형 선형가속기 TrueBeam을 대상으로 10 MV FF mode와 FFF mode간 광중성자의 발생량을 평가하였고, FFF mode에서 10 MV, 15 MV 에너지 변화에 따라 발생되는 광중성자의 발생량을 평가하였다. 발생된 광중성자는 13개 측정점에서 평가하였으며, 발생된 광중성자 수집을 위해서는 한국천문연구원에서 개발한 조직등가비례계수기(KTEPC)를 이용하였다. 10 MV FF mode와 FFF mode 간 측정결과에서 10 MV FF mode가 모든 측정 점에서 높게 측정되었으며, Superior 방향에서 0.455 mSv와 0.152 mSv로 가장 많은 차이를 보였으며, FF에서 33% 이상 많은 광중성자가 발생하였다. FFF mode에서 10 MV, 15 MV 에너지에 따라서는 15 MV에서 모든 방향에서 높게 평가되었고, 방향 기준으로는 Superior 방향에서 0.402 mSv로 가장 높게 평가되었으며, 전체 평균 6.9%로 높게 측정되었다.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제34권
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• pp.7-12
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• 2022

목 적: 볼루스 적용이 어려운 코와 같은 요철 부위 치료 시 피부 선량 확보에 어려움이 있는 경우, IMRT(Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy)전달 기법 과 평균 에너지가 낮은 FFF(Flattening Filter Free)를 조합한 치료 계획으로 피부 선량 증가 여부를 팬텀 실험을 통해 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 두경부암 치료시 가장 흔하게 사용하는 6MV-FF(Flattening Filter) VMAT(Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy) 치료계획을 기준으로 정하고, VMAT와 IMRT, FF와 FFF, 5 mm 볼루스 적용 유무를 조합하여 비교군을 생성하였다. 란도 팬텀 콧등에 가상 타겟을 생성하였고, 5 mm 의 가상의 볼루스를 란도 팬텀 콧등 위에 완전 밀착을 가정하여 적용하였다. 팬텀의 코를 기준으로 5개 측정지점을 정하고 각각의 치료계획 을 치료테크닉과 bolus 적용유무에 맞게 치료계획 당 3회를 조사하여 흡수선량을 측정하였다. 결 과: FF vs FFF 에서의 피부선량 차이는 VMAT bolus off에서 FFF인 경우 증가하였고, IMRT bolus off의 경우 차이를 나타내지 않았다. VMAT bolus 5 mm, IMRT bolus 5 mm에서는 FFF에서 오히려 피부선량이 감소되는 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. VMAT vs IMRT 피부선량 차이는 FFF bolus off 의 경우에만 피부선량이 증가했고, 나머지는 통계적 차이가 없었다. bolus off vs bolus 5 mm 에서의 피부선량 차이는 IMRT FFF 을 사용했을 경우만 제외하고는 모두 bolus 5 mm 에서 피부선량이 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. IMRT와 FFF를 조합한 치료 계획은 통상적으로 사용되는 VMAT와 FF를 사용하여 5 mm 볼루스를 적용한 치료 계획 피부선량의 측정값을 분석한 결과 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 발견하지 못했다. 따라서 IMRT_FFF 를 사용함으로써 VMAT_FF 에 5 mm 볼루스 적용한 것과 비슷한 수준의 피부선량 전달이 가능할 것이라 사료되며, 이는 높은 피부선량이 필요하지만, 볼루스 적용이 어려운 환자와 같은 경우에 유용할 수 있다. 결 론: 볼루스 적용이 어려운 환자의 경우, VMAT와 FF에 비교하여 IMRT와 FFF를 적절히 조합한 치료 계획으로 피부 선량 증가를 기대할 수 있다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.194-201
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• 2013

To investigate monitoring unit (MU) efficiency and plan quality of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) using flattening-filter free (FFF) photon beam in association with target size and location. A virtual patient was generated in Eclipse$^{TM}$ (ver. A10, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA) treatment planning system. The length of major and minor axis in axial view was 50 cm and 30 cm, respectively. Cylindrical-shaped targets were generated inside that patient at the center (symmetric target) and in the periphery (asymmetric target, 7.5 cm away from the center of the patient to the right direction) of the virtual patient. The longitudinal length was 10 cm and the diameters were 2, 5, 10 and 15 cm. Total 8 targets were generated. RapidArc$^{TM}$ plans using TrueBeam STx$^{TM}$ were generated for each target. Two full arcs were used and the axis of rotation of the gantry was set to be at the center of the virtual patient. Total MU, homogeneity index (HI), target mean dose, the value of gradient measure and body mean dose were calculated. In the case of symmetric targets, averaged total MU of FFF plan was 23% and 19% higher than that of flattening filter (FF) plan when using 6 MV and 10 MV photons, respectively. The difference of HI, target mean dose, gradient measure and body mean dose between FF and FFF was less than 0.04, 2.6%, 0.1 cm and 2.2%, respectively. For the asymmetric targets, total MU of FFF plan was 21% and 32% was higher than that of FF when using 6 MV and 10 MV photons, respectively. The homogeneity of the target was always worse when using FFF than using FF. The maximum difference of HI was 0.22. The target mean dose of FFF was 3.2% and 4.1% higher than that of FF for the 6 MV and 10 MV, respectively. The difference of gradient measure was less than 0.1 cm. The body mean dose was higher when using FFF than FF about 4.2% and 2.8% for the 6 MV and 10 MV, respectively. No significant differences between VMAT plans of FFF beam and FF beam were observed in terms of quality of treatment plan. The HI was higher when using FFF 10 MV photons for the asymmetric targets. The MU was increased noticeably when using FFF photon beams.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2019

최근 도입된 FFF 빔을 활용하는 방사선치료는 flattening filter에서 비롯되는 빔의 감쇠를 막을 수 있어 치료효율을 높일 수 있지만, 불균일한 단면적 선량분포에 대하여 정확한 정도관리가 구축되어 있지 않은 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 광도전체 물질 $HgI_2$ 기반의 곡면 선량계를 제작하였으며, 성능을 검증하기 위하여 6 MV 광자에너지에서 재현성 및 선형성을 평가하였다. 또한 곡면 계측의 유용성을 나타내기 위하여 아크릴 필터를 적용한 FFF beam에서 평면 기판과 곡면 기판 상에서 계측되는 신호를 비교하였다. 그 결과 Unit cell 선량계의 재현성은 SE 0.613%, 선형성은 R-sq 0.9999로 나타났으며, line array 곡면 선량계의 유용성 평가는 평면 기판에서 23.337%, 곡면 기판에서 12.264%로 11.073%p 감소된 신호 차이를 보였다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제43권3호
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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.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.288-297
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• 2014

Dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT) and flattening-filter-free (FFF) beams are commonly adopted for efficient conformal dose delivery in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Off-axis geometry (OAG) may be necessary to obtain full gantry rotation without collision, which has been shown to be beneficial for peripheral targets using flattened beams. In this study dose distributions in OAG using FFF were evaluated and the effect of mechanical rotation induced uncertainty was investigated. For the lateral target, OAG evaluation, sphere targets (2, 4, and 6 cm diameter) were placed at three locations (central axis, 3 cm off-axis, and 6 cm off-axis) in a representative patient CT set. For each target, DCAT plans under the same objective were obtained for 6X, 6FFF, 10X, and 10FFF. The parameters used to evaluate the quality of the plans were homogeneity index (HI), conformality indices (CI), and beam on time (BOT). Next, the mechanical rotation induced uncertainty was evaluated using five SBRT patient plans that were randomly selected from a group of patients with laterally located tumors. For each of the five cases, a plan was generated using OAG and CAG with the same prescription and coverage. Each was replanned to account for one degree collimator/couch rotation errors during delivery. Prescription isodose coverage, CI, and lung dose were evaluated. HI and CI values for the lateral target, OAG evaluation were similar for flattened and unflattened beams; however, 6FFF provided slightly better values than 10FFF in OAG. For all plans the HI and CI were acceptable with the maximum difference between flattened and unflattend beams being 0.1. FFF beams showed better conformality than flattened beams for low doses and small targets. Variation due to rotational error for isodose coverage, CI, and lung dose was generally smaller for CAG compared to OAG, with some of these comparisons reaching statistical significance. However, the variations in dose distributions for either treatment technique were small and may not be clinically significant. FFF beams showed acceptable dose distributions in OAG. Although 10FFF provides more dramatic BOT reduction, it generally provides less favorable dosimetric indices compared to 6FFF in OAG. Mechanical uncertainty in collimator and couch rotation had an increased effect for OAG compared to CAG; however, the variations in dose distributions for either treatment technique were minimal.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.220-223
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• 2016

Generally, it is recommended that the dosimetric effect of carbon fiber couch should be considered especially for an intensity-modulated therapy with a large portion of monitor units from posterior angles. Even a flattening filter free (FFF) beam has been used for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), the effect of carbon fiber couch for FFF beam is not well known. This work is an effort to evaluate the dosimetric effect of carbon fiber couch for flattened and FFF beam of Elekta linac empirically. The absorbed doses were measured with Farmer type chamber and water-equivalent phantoms with and without couch. And differences of the absorbed doses between with and without couch defined as "couch effect". By comparing calculated dose in treatment planning system (TPS) with measured dose, the optimal density of couch was evaluated. Finally, differences on patient's skin dose and target dose by couch were evaluated in TPS. As a result, the couch effect for 6 and 10 MV flattened beam were -2.71% and -2.32%, respectively. These values were agreed with provided data by vendor within 0.5%. The couch effect for 6 and 10 MV FFF beam were -3.75% and -2.80%, respectively. The patient's skin dose was increased as 18.6% and target dose was decreased as 0.87%, respectively. It was realized that the couch effect of FFF beam was more severe than that of flattened beam. Patient's skin dose and target dose were changed by the couch effect.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-43
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• 2015

목 적 : 정위적체부방사선치료(Stereotatic body radiation therapy, SBRT)는 원발성 종양과 전이성 종양의 치료법으로 이용되어진다. SBRT는 높은 선량을 전달하기 때문에 MU(Monitor unit)의 증가로 치료시간이 길어지고 치료계획용적(Planning Target Volume, PTV) 주변의 정상장기를 효과적으로 보호할 수 있는 치료계획이 필요하다. 특히 다중표적의 경우 SBRT를 여러 번에 나누어 치료해야하거나 선량 겹침으로 인한 고 선량 영역(Hot spot)이 생길수도 있다. 본 연구는 다중표적 간암에서 TrueBeam STx(Varian, USA)의 무편평화여과기선질(Flattening filter free, FFF) beam을 이용한 용적변조회전치료(Volumetric modulated arc therapy, VMAT)의 유용성을 평가하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 다중표적 간암의 SBRT를 시행하는 5명의 환자를 대상으로 TrueBeam STx의 10MV FFF beam을 이용한 VMAT과 15MV 편평화여과기선질(Flattening filter, FF) beam을 이용한 입체조형치료(conformal radiotherapy, CRT)계획을 세웠다. 두 치료계획을 비교하기 위하여 선량용적히스토그램(Dose Volume Histogram, DVH)을 이용하여 치료계획용적(Planning Target Volume, PTV), 간, 십이지장, 장, 식도, 척수에 들어가는 선량을 평가하고 전체 MU 값을 비교하였다. 또한 두 치료계획의 치료시간을 비교하기 위하여 Beam on time을 평가하였다. 결 과 : PTV에 대한 처방선량지수(Conformity Index, CI), 선량균질지수(Homogeneity index, HI), 처방선량포함지수(Paddick's Conformity Index, PCI)의 평균값은 VMAT에서 각각 $1.006{\pm}0.028$, $1.098{\pm}0.016$, $1.132{\pm}0.084$, CRT에서 $1.381{\pm}0.419$ $1.136{\pm}0.042$, $1.534{\pm}0.465$로 평가되었다. 정상장기에 대한 선량은 CRT에서 VMAT 보다 약 1.8배 높은 선량으로 평가되었다. 전체 MU값은 VMAT에서 약 1.3배 높게 평가되었고 VMAT과 CRT 두 치료계획의 평균 Beam on time은 각각 6.8분, 21.3분으로 평가되었다. 결 론 : 다중표적 간암의 정위적체부방사선치료에서 FFF Beam을 이용한 VMAT을 적용하면 선량 겹침 없이 다중표적을 한 번에 치료할 수 있으며 PTV의 선량포함을 만족하면서 주위의 정상장기를 더 효과적으로 보호할 수 있는 치료계획이 가능하다. 또한 FFF Beam의 높은 선량률(Dose rate)을 이용하여 치료시간을 단축시켜 치료 중 발생할 수 있는 오차를 감소시킬 수 있다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2023

Background: As breast tissue expanders consist of metallic materials in the needle guard and ferromagnetic injection port, irradiation can produce radioactivation. Materials and Methods: A CPX4 (Mentor Worldwide LLD) breast tissue expander was exposed using the Versa HD (Elekta) linear accelerator. Two photon energies of 6 and 10 MV-flattening filter free (FFF) beams with 5,000 monitor units (MU) were irradiated to identify the types of radiation. Furthermore, 300 MU with 10 MV-FFF beam was exposed to the CPX4 breast tissue expander by varying the machine dose rates (MDRs) 600, 1,200, and 2,200 MU/min. To assess the instantaneous dose rates (IDRs) solely from the CPX4, a tissue expander was placed outside the treatment room after beam irradiation, and a portable radioisotope identification device was used to identify the types of radiation and measure IDR. Results and Discussion: After 5,000 MU delivery to the CPX4 breast tissue expander, the energy spectrum whose peak energy of 511 keV was found with 10 MV-FFF, while there was no resultant one with 6 MV-FFF. The time of each measurement was 1 minute, and the mean IDRs from the 10 MV-FFF were 0.407, 0.231, and 0.180 μSv/hr for the three successive measurements. Following 10 MV-FFF beam irradiation with 300 MU indicated around the background level from the first measurement regardless of MDRs. Conclusion: As each institute room entry time protocol varies according to the working hours and occupational doses, we suggest an addition of 1 minute from the institutes' own room entry time protocol in patients with CPX4 tissue expander and the case of radiotherapy vaults equipped with a maximum energy of 10 MV photon beams.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.210-217
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• 2014

이 연구는 비편평화여과기(flattening filter-free, FFF) 빔을 이용한 폐 정위절제방사선치료(stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, SABR)에 대하여 서로 다른 선량계산 알고리즘의 선량적 효과를 조사하였다. SABR를 받은 10명의 폐암 환자를 대상으로하여 평가하였다. 모든 치료계획은 Eclipse 치료계획시스템의 Acuros XB (AXB) 알고리즘을 이용하여 수립되었다. 다른 선량계산 알고리즘과 비교를 위하여, 추가적으로 anisotropic analytic algorithm (AAA) 알고리즘을 적용한 치료계획을 재 수립하였다. 두 알고리즘 평가를 위해서, 치료표적과 손상위험장기의 선량체적히스토그램(dose-volume histogrim, DVH)를 분석하였다. 그리고 기술적 인자로써 계산시간과 총 MU 값을 평가하였다. DVH 비교분석을 통해, PTV의 최대선량은 AXB이 AAA 보다 5.2% 높았으며 최소선량은 4.4% 낮게 나타났다. PTV의 $V_{105%}$에서 7.06%까지 큰 차이를 나타났다. 폐의 최대선량은 AXB 치료계획에서 약간 크게 나타났다. 동측성 폐에 5, 10과 20 Gy 선량이 조사되는 체적은 AAA 보다 AXB에서 더 크게 나타났으나 대측성 폐에 대해서는 거의 비슷하게 나타났다. 척수와 심장에서 최대선량의 차이도 크지 않았다. 계산시간의 경우, AXB가 AAA보다 13.7% 정도 소요시간이 적었고 MU 값은 AXB에서 3.47% 더 많았다. 이 연구의 결과들은 회전조절치료 기법을 포함하여 FFF 빔이 적용된 폐 SABR 치료계획에서 AXB 알고리즘은 선량계산의 정확성과 계산시간의 감소의 장점을 제공할 수 있을 것이다.