• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.35
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• pp.41-51
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• 2023

Purpose: This study compares and analyzes the image quality of 3D-CBCT(Cone Beam Computed-Tomography) and Gated CBCT according to baseline changes during SBRT(Stereotactic Body RadioTherapy) in lung cancer patients to find a useful CBCT method for correcting movement due to breathing Materials and methods : Insert a solid tumor material with a diameter of 3 cm into the QUASAR^TM phantom. 4-Dimentional Computed-Tomography(4DCT) images were taken with a speed of the phantom at period 3 sec and a maximum amplitude of 20 mm. Using the contouring menu of the computerized treatment planning system Eclipse^TM Gross Tumor Volume was outlined on solid tumor material. Set-up the same as when acquiring a 4DCT image using Truebeam STx^TM, breathing patterns with baseline changes of 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm were input into the phantom to obtain 3D-CBCT (Spotlight, Full) and Gated-CBCT (Spotlight, Full) images five times repeatedly. The acquired images were compared with the Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR), Contrast-to-Noise Ratio(CNR), Tumor Volume Length, and Motion Blurring Ratio(MBR) based on the 4DCT image. Results: The average Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Contrast-to-Noise Ratio, Tumor Volume Length and Motion Blurring Ratio of Spotlight Gated CBCT images were 13.30±0.10%, 7.78±0.16%, 3.55±0.17%, 1.18±0.06%. As a result, Spotlight Gated-CBCT images according to baseline change showed better values than Spotligtht 3D-CBCT images. Also, the average Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Contrast-to-Noise Ratio, Tumor Volume Length and Motion Blurring Ratio of Full Gated CBCT images were 12.80±0.11%, 7.60±0.11%, 3.54±0.16%, 1.18±0.05%. As a result Full GatedCBCT images according to baseline change showed better values than Full 3D-CBCT images. Conclusion : Compared to 3D-CBCT images, Gated-CBCT images had better image quality according to the baseline change, and the effect of Motion Blurring Artifacts caused by breathing was small. Therefore, it is considered useful to image guided using Gated-CBCT when a baseline change occurs due to difficulty in regular breathing during SBRT that exposes high doses in a short period of time

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.34
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• pp.61-72
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• 2022

Purpose: Conventional CBCT(Cone-beam Computed-tomography) caused an error in the target volume due to organ movement in the area affected by respiratory movement. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness of accuracy and time spent using the Gated CBCT function, which reduces errors when performing RGRT(respiratory gated radiation therapy), and to examine the appropriateness of phase. Materials and methods: To evaluate the usefulness of Gated CBCT, the QUASAR^TM respiratory motion phantom was used in the Truebeam STx^TM. Using lead marker inserts, Gated CBCT was scaned 5 times for every 20~80% phase, 30~70% phase, and 40~60% phase to measure the blurring length of the lead marker, and the distance the lead marker moves from the top phase to the end of the phase was measured 5 times. Using Cedar Solid Tumor Inserts, 4DCT was scanned for every phase, 20-80%, 30-70%, and 40-60%, and the target volume was contoured and the length was measured five times in the axial direction (S-I direction). Result: In Gated CBCT scaned using lead marker inserts, the axial moving distance of the lead marker on average was measured to be 4.46cm in the full phase, 3.11cm in the 20-80% phase, 1.94cm in the 30-70% phase, 0.90cm in the 40-60% phase. In Fluoroscopy, the axial moving distance of the lead marker on average was 4.38cm and the distance on average from the top phase to the beam off phase was 3.342cm in the 20-80% phase, 3.342cm in the 30-70% phase, and 0.84cm in the 40-60% phase. Comparing the results, the difference in the full phase was 0.08cm, the 20~80% phase was 0.23cm, the 30~70% phase was 0.10cm, and the 40~60% phase was 0.07cm. The axial lengths of ITV(Internal Target Volume) and PTV(Planning Target Volume) contoured by 4DCT taken using cedar solid tumor inserts were measured to be 6.40cm and 7.40cm in the full phase, 4.96cm and 5.96cm in the 20~80% phase, 4.42cm and 5.42cm in the 30~70% phase, and 2.95cm and 3.95cm in the 40~60% phase. In the Gated CBCT, the axial lengths on average was measured to be 6.35 cm in the full phase, 5.25 cm in the 20-80% phase, 4.04 cm in the 30-70% phase, and 3.08 cm in the 40-60% phase. Comparing the results, it was confirmed that the error was within ±8.5% of ITV Conclusion: Conventional CBCT had a problem that errors occurred due to organ movement in areas affected by respiratory movement, but through this study, obtained an image similar to the target volume of the setting phase using Gated CBCT and verified its usefulness. However, as the setting phase decreases, the scan time was increases. Therefore, considering the scan time and the error in setting phase, It is recommended to apply it to patients with respiratory coordinated stereotactic radiation therapy using a wide phase of 30-70% or more.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2016

Purpose : To evaluate the results of absorbed and effective doses using CBCT and 4D-CBCT settings for lung cancer. Materials and Methods : This experimental study. Measurements were performed using a Anderson rando phantom with OSLD(optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters). It was performed computed tomography(Lightspeed GE, USA) in order to express the major organs of the human body. Measurements were obtained a mean value is repeated three times each. Evaluations of effective dose and absorbed dose were performed the CL-IX-Thorax mode and Truebeam-Thorax mode CBCT. Additionally, compared Truebeam-Thorax mode CBCT with Truebeam-Thorax mode 4D-CBCT(Four-dimensional Cone Beam Computed Tomography) Results : Average absorbed dose in the CBCT of CL-IX was measured in lung 2.505cGy, heart 2.595cGy, liver 2.145cGy, stomach 1.934cGy, skin 2.233cGy, in case of Truebeam, It was measured lung 1.725cGy, heart 2.034cGy, liver 1.616cGy, stomach 1.470cGy, skin 1.445cGy. In case of 4D-CBCT, It was measured lung 3.849cGy, heart 4.578cGy, liver 3.497cGy, stomach 3.179cGy, skin 3.319cGy Average effective dose, considered tissue weighting and radiation weighting, in the CBCT of CL-IX was measured lung 2.164mSv, heart 2.241mSVv, liver 0.136mSv, stomach 1.668mSv, skin 0.009mSv, in case of Turebeam, it was measured lung 1.725mSv, heart 1.757mSv, liver 0.102mSv, stomach 1.270mSv, skin 0.005mSv, In case of 4D-CBCT, It was measured lung 3.326mSv, heart 3.952mSv, liver 0.223mSv, stomach 2.747mSv, skin 0.013mSv Conclusion : As a result, absorbed dose and effective Dose in the CL-IX than Truebeam was higher about 1.3 times and in the 4D-CBCT Truebeam than CBCT of Truebeam was higher about 2.2times However, a large movement of the patient and respiratory gated radiotherapy may be more accurate treatment in 4D-CBCT. Therefore, it will be appropriate to selectively used.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

The cone-beam CT (CBCT) which is acquired using on-board imager (OBI) attached to a linear accelerator is widely used for the image guided radiation therapy. In this study, the effect of respiratory motion on the quality of CBCT image was evaluated. A phantom system was constructed in order to simulate respiratory motion. One part of the system is composed of a moving plate and a motor driving component which can control the motional cycle and motional range. The other part is solid water phantom containing a small cubic phantom ($2{\times}2{\times}2cm^3$) surrounded by air which simulate a small tumor volume in the lung air cavity CBCT images of the phantom were acquired in 20 different cases and compared with the image in the static status. The 20 different cases are constituted with 4 different motional ranges (0.7 cm, 1.6 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.1 cm) and 5 different motional cycles (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 sec). The difference of CT number in the coronal image was evaluated as a deformation degree of image quality. The relative average pixel intensity values as a compared CT number of static CBCT image were 71.07% at 0.7 cm motional range, 48.88% at 1.6 cm motional range, 30.60% at 2.4 cm motional range, 17.38% at 3.1 cm motional range The tumor phantom sizes which were defined as the length with different CT number compared with air were increased as the increase of motional range (2.1 cm: no motion, 2.66 cm: 0.7 cm motion, 3.06 cm: 1.6 cm motion, 3.62 cm: 2.4 cm motion, 4.04 cm: 3.1 cm motion). This study shows that respiratory motion in the region of inhomogeneous structures can degrade the image quality of CBCT and it must be considered in the process of setup error correction using CBCT images.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2009

Purpose: The introduction of image guided radiation therapy/four-dimensional radiation therapy (IGRT/4DRT) potentially increases the accumulated dose to patients from imaging and verification processes as compared to conventional practice. It is therefore essential to investigate the level of the imaging dose to patients when IGRT/4DRT devices are installed. The imaging dose level was monitored and was compared with the use of pre-IGRT practice. Materials and Methods: A four-dimensional CT (4DCT) unit (GE, Ultra Light Speed 16), a simulator (Varian Acuity) and Varian IX unit with an on-board imager (OBI) and cone beam CT (CBCT) were installed. The surface doses to a RANDO phantom (The Phantom Laboratory, Salem, NY USA) were measured with the newly installed devices and with pre-existing devices including a single slice CT scanner (GE, Light Speed), a simulator (Varian Ximatron) and L-gram linear accelerator (Varian, 2100C Linac). The surface doses were measured using thermo luminescent dosimeters (TLDs) at eight sites-the brain, eye, thyroid, chest, abdomen, ovary, prostate and pelvis. Results: Compared to imaging with the use of single slice non-gated CT, the use of 4DCT imaging increased the dose to the chest and abdomen approximately ten-fold ($1.74{\pm}0.34$ cGy versus $23.23{\pm}3.67$cGy). Imaging doses with the use of the Acuity simulator were smaller than doses with the use of the Ximatron simulator, which were $0.91{\pm}0.89$ cGy versus $6.77{\pm}3.56$ cGy, respectively. The dose with the use of the electronic portal imaging device (EPID; Varian IX unit) was approximately 50% of the dose with the use of the L-gram linear accelerator ($1.83{\pm}0.36$ cGy versus $3.80{\pm}1.67$ cGy). The dose from the OBI for fluoroscopy and low-dose mode CBCT were $0.97{\pm}0.34$ cGy and $2.3{\pm}0.67$ cGy, respectively. Conclusion: The use of 4DCT is the major source of an increase of the radiation (imaging) dose to patients. OBI and CBCT doses were small, but the accumulated dose associated with everyday verification need to be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the variability of tumor motion and respiration pattern in lung cancer patients undergoing Stereotactic Body RadioTherapy(SBRT) by using On-Board imager (OBI) system and Real-time Position Management (RPM) System. Materials and Methods : This study population consisted of 60 lung cancer patient treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (48 Gy / 4 fractions). Of these, 30 were treated with gating (group 1) and 30 without gating(group2): typically the patients whose tumors showed three-dimensional respiratory motion > 10 mm were selected for gating. 4-dimensional Computed Tomography (4DCT). Cone Beam CT (CBCT) and Fluoroscopy images were used to measure the tumor motion. RPM system was used to evaluate the variability of respiration pattern on SBRT for group1. Results : The mean difference of tumor motion among 4DCT, CBCT and Fluoroscopy images in the cranio-caudal direction was 2.3 mm in group 1, 2. The maximum difference was 12.5 mm in the group 1 and 8.5 mm in group 2. The number of treatment fractions that patient's respiration pattern was within Upper-Lower threshold on SBRT in group 2 was 31 fractions. A patient who exhibited the most unstable pattern exceeded 108 times in a fraction Conclusion : Although many patients in group 1 and 2 kept the reproducibility of tumor motion within 5 mm during their treatment, some patients exhibited variability of tumor motion in the CBCT and Fluoroscopy images. It was possible to improve the accuracy of dose delivery in SBRT without gating for lung cancer patient by using RPM system.