• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.357-366
• /
• 1998

Brachytherapy is an essential part of radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer. The low dose rate (LDR) regimen has been the major technique of intracavitary therapy for cervical cancer. However, there has been an expansion in the last 20 years of high dose rate (HDR) machines using Ir-192 sources. Since 1979, HDR brachytherapy has been used for the treatment of uterine cervical cancer in Korea. The number of institutions employing HDR has been increasing, while the number of low dose rate system has been constant. In 1995, there was a total 27 HDR brachytherapy units installed and 1258 cases of patients with cervical cancer were treated with HDR Most common regimens of HDR brachytherapy are total dose of 30-39 Gy at point A with 10-13 fractions in three fractions per week. 24-32 Gy with 6-8 fractions in two fractions per week, and 30-35 Gy with 6-7 fractions in two fractions per week. The average fractionation regimen of HDR brachytherapy is about 8 fractions of 4.1 Gy each to Point A. In Korea, treatment results for HDR brachytherapy are comparable with the LDR series and appears to be a safe and effective alternative to LDR therapy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. Studies from the major centers report the five-year survival rate of cervical cancer as. 78-86$\%$ for Stage 1, 68-85$\%$ for stage 11, and 38-56$\%$ for Stage III. World-wide questionnaire study and Japanese questionnaire survey of multiple institutions showed no survival difference in any stages and dose-rate effect ratio (HDR/LDR) was calculated to be 0.54 to 0.58. However the optimum treatment doses and fractionation schemes appropriate to generate clinical results comparable to conventional LDR schemes have yet to be standardized. In conclusion, HDR intracavitary radiotherapy is increasingly practiced in Korea and an effective treatment modality for cervical cancer. To determine the optimum radiotherapy dose and fractionation schedule, a nation-wide prospective study is necessary in Korea. In addition, standardization of HDR application (clinical, computer algorithms, and dosimetric aspects) is necessary.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2003

HDR (High dose rate) 근접 치료는 기존의 LDR (Low dose rate) 근접 치료에서 야기되었던 치료 시간이나 선량 최적화 등의 문제점을 해결하였기 때문에 자궁경부암 치료에 많이 사용되고 있다. 그러나, 단시간에 고선량이 조사되는 HDR 근접치료에서 치료 효과를 극대화시키기 위해서는 선량 계산 알고리즘, 위치 계산 알고리즘, 최적화 알고리즘이 정확하게 검증되어야 한다. 이를 위해서는 인체 등가 팬톰과 치료 계획 컴퓨터의 선량 분포 곡선을 비교함으로써 검증할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 검증이 가능하도록 자궁경부암용 팬톰을 설계, 제작하여 HDR 치료 계획 컴퓨터와 팬톰과의 선량을 비교, 평가하는 것이다 이 자궁경부암용 팬톰은 높은 해상도를 가진 선량 측정기를 사용하여 정량적인 평가가 가능하도록 제작되었고, 인체 등가물질인 물과 아크릴을 사용하여 제작하였다 또한, 팬톰 내의 방사선량 측정을 위해서 $\frac{1}{8}$ 인치 TLD (Thermoluminescent dosimeters) 칩과 공간 해상도가 1 mm 이내인 필름을 사용하였다. 이 자궁경부암용 팬톰는 HDR applicator의 고정을 위해 applicator 홀더의 홈 안에 HDR applicator가 삽입되게 제작하였고 세 개의 TLD 홀더에는 TLD 칩(TLD 간의 거리는 5 mm)이 정렬되게 제작하여 A점이나 B점 같은 특정 점의 절대 선량을 측정할 수 있게 제작하였다 필름은 3개의 직교(orthogonal) 평면에 삽입되도록 제작하여 상대 선량 측정이 가능하게 하였다. 사용된 치료 계획 시스템은 Nucletron Plato system이고, Microselectron Ir-192 소스를 사용하였다. 선량 평가 결과, TLD 선량의 경우 A, B point를 포함하여 직장과 방광 선량이 $\pm$4% 이내로 치료계획 컴퓨터(Plato, Nucletron)와 일치하였고, 필름의 경우 선량 분포 곡선이 치료계획 컴퓨터의 선량 분포 곡선 패턴과 거의 일치하는 우수한 결과를 보였다. 제작된 자궁경부암용 팬톰은 HDR 치료 계획 컴퓨터의 선량 계산 알고리즘의 평가 및 검증에 유용하게 사용될 것이고, 이 팬톰은 강남성모병원 치료방사선과 HDR 근접치료 기기의 선량과 위치확인의 QA(quality assurance) 도구로써 사용하려고 추진 중에 있다.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.30-44
• /
• 1998

Accurate delivery of doses using a high dose rate(HDR) brachytherapy, remote afterloading system(RALS) depends on knowing the strength of the radioactive source at the time of treatment, the precision and consistency of the timer, and the ability of the unit to position the source at the proper dwell location along the applicator. Periodic Quality Assurance(QA) on HDR machines is a part of the standard protocol of any user. The safety of the patient & staff, positional accuracy, temporal accuracy, and dose delivery accuracy are periodically(weekly, quarterly, monthly) estimated using HDR source(Ir-192), treatment planning devices, measurement devices, and overall treatment devices with regard to treatment delivery. The overall measurement results are estimated successfully and assessed its clinical significance. As a result, our HDR brachytherapy units has been very accurate until now. The QA program protocol permits routine clinical use and provides a high confidence level in the accurate operation of HDR units. Therefore, regular QA of HDR brachytherapy is essential for successful treatment.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
• /
• pp.150-153
• /
• 2002

High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in the treatment of cervix carcinoma has become popular, because it eliminated many of the problems with conventional brachytherapy. In order to improve clinical effectiveness with HDR brachytherapy, dose calculation algorithm, optimization procedures, and image registrations should be verified by comparing the dose distributions from a planning computer and those from a humanoid phantom irradiated. Therefore, the humanoid phantom should be designed such that the dose distributions could be quantitatively evaluated by utilizing the dosimeters with high spatial resolution. Therefore, the small size of thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips with the dimension of 1/8" and film dosimetry with spatial resolution of <1mm used to measure the radiation dosages in the phantom. The humanoid phantom called a pelvic phantom is made of water and tissue-equivalent acrylic plates. In order to firmly hold the HDR applicators in the water phantom, the applicators are inserted into the grooves of the applicator supporters. The dose distributions around the applicators, such as Point A and B, can be measured by placing a series of TLD chips (TLD-to- TLD distance: 5mm) in three TLD holders, and placing three verification films in orthogonal planes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 1996

목적 : 악성 종양으로 인해 기도 폐쇄가 온 환자들을 저선량 및 고선량으로 내기관지 근접 치료하였을 경우의 대중치료 효과, 생존율 및 병발증을 비교 검토한다. 대상 및 방법 : 1988년 10월부터 1992년 6월까지 저선량 방법으로 21명, 1992년 8월부터 1994년 4월까지 고선량 방법으로 22명, 총 43명의 환자들에게 내기관지 근접치료를 시행하였다. 총 91회의 치료시, 모두 Fluorocopy하에서 굴절성 Fiberoptlc 내시경을 이용하였으며, 저선량 방법의 21회는 15-30 Gy를 0.75 cm 원경에, 고선량 방법의 64회는 5-7.5 Gy를 Ir-192 선원으로부터 1 Cm 원경에 각각 투사하였다. 결과 : 주관적 및 객관적 치료효과의 분석은 임상재진시 나타난 환자의 증상, 흥부 방사선 사진 및 흥부 단층촬영의 결과로 이루어졌다. 저산량으로 치료한 21명 중 15명의 환자와 고선량으로 치료한 22명 중 19명의 환자들이 주관적 치료효과가 있었음을 보였고, 8명의 저선량 환자와 10명의 고선량 환자가 흥부 방사선 사진과 단층 촬영상에서 객관적 효과가 있었음을 나타냈다. 결론 : 저선량 및 고선량 방사선에 의해 근접치료의 기술은 비교적 간단하며 환자가 별다른 후유증 없이 치료를 잘 받아 드리는 편이다. 이 치료 방법은 여생이 얼마 남지 않은 말기 폐암환자에게 내기관지 협착 내지는 폐쇄가 왔을 때 기관지의 공기소통을 원활히 증진시켜주는 대증치료 방법 이다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제28권5호
• /
• pp.470-476
• /
• 2006

Low-dose rate brachytherapy(LDR) has been effective modality for treatment of oral cancer. But the disadvantage of LDR is radioexposure of medical staff. To overcome this problem, high dose rate(HDR) brachytherapy has been developed. Our study evaluates the outcomes of patients with tongue cancer as treated by HDR brachytherapy. Between 2002 and 2005, eight patients with carcinoma of the tongue were treated with HDR brachytherapy. Five patients had AJCC stage I or II disease and the remaining three patients had AJCC stage III or IV. The male-to-female ratio was 2:6 and the mean age was 60.1 years (range: 21-80 years).The median follow-up time was 23.8 months (range: 7-55 months). There was no local failure until now. Three patients showed some complications. Two patients showed soft tissue necrosis. There was no bone sequela in all cases. Our experience in treating tongue cancer with HDR brachytherapy is encouraging, because it gave a satisfactory local control. Prospective studies are necessary to delineate the optimum indication for this treatment modality and long-term outcome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.32-39
• /
• 2000

목적 : 자궁경부 선암은 발생률이 적어 편평상피암에 비하여 아직 치료방법에 대한 연구가 미흡하다. 또한 지금까지 저선량률 강내치료가 많이 사용되어 고선량률 강내치료의 결과는 많이 보고되고있지 않다. 따라서 저자들은 자궁경부 선암환자에서 고선량률 강내치료와 저선량률 강내치료를 비교하여 고선량률 강내치료의 효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 1971년 1월부터 1992년 12월까지 연세대학교 방사선종양학과에서 근치적 목적으로 치료된 106명의자궁경부 선암 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 저선량률 강내치료는 35명에서 시행되었고, 71명은 고선량률 강내치료가 시행되었다. 저선량률군에서는 병기 1기가 8명, 병기 2기가 18명, 병기 3기가 9명이었고 외부방사선치료는 10 MV X-ray를 이용하여 매일 2 Gy씩 총 40$\~$64 Gy (중앙값 48 Gy)가 조사되었다. 저선량률 강내치료는 radium 선원을 이용하여 Henshke applicator로 시행되었고 point A에 22$\~$59 Gy (중앙값 43 Gy)가 조사되었다. 고선량률군에서는 병기 1기가 16명, 병기 2기가 38명, 병기 3기가 17명 이었다. 외부방사선치료량은 40$\~$61 Gy (중앙값 45 Gy)이었고 분할선량은 1.8$\~$2.0 Gy이었다. 고선량률 강내치료는 Co-60 선원을 사용하여 RALS (remote afterloading system)로 분할선량 3 Gy를 주 3회 총 30$\~$57 Gy (중앙값 39 Gy)가 시행되었다. 결과 :저선량률군의 5년 생존률은 병기1, 2, 3기에서 각각 72.9, 61.9, 45.0$\%$이었고 고선량률군에서는 각각 87.1, 58.3, 41.2$\%$이었다(p>0.05). 자궁경부 선암에서 고선량률군과 저선량률군간의 5년 생존률에는 차이가 혀었다. 또한 양군간에 유의한 예후인자는 없었다. 고선량률군의 만성 합병증률은 26.8$\%$로 저선량률군의 11.4$\%$에 비하여 높았으나 대부분 grade 1의 경미한 정도이었고 통계학적인 차이가 없어 받아들일 만한 결과이었다. 결론 :자궁경부 선암 환자에서 고선량률 강내치료는 저선량률 강내치료에 비하여 5년 생존률과 치료실패율에서 차이를 보이지 않아 저선량률 강내치료를 대치할 수 있을 것으로 생각되나 병기 2기와 3기에서 만성 합병증이 높아 분할 선량에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권16호
• /
• pp.7167-7170
• /
• 2015

Background: Although 3D image based brachytherapy is currently the standard of treatment in cervical cancer, most of the centres in developing countries still practice orthogonal intracavitary brachytherapy due to financial constraints. The quest for optimum dose and fractionation schedule in high dose rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) is still ongoing. While the American Brachytherapy Society recommends four to eight fractions of each less than 7.5 Gy, there are some studies demonstrating similar efficacy and comparable toxicity with higher doses per fraction. Objective: To assess the treatment efficacy and late complications of HDR ICBT with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective institutional study in Southern India carried on from $1^{st}$ June 2012 to $31^{st}$ July 2014. In this period, 76 patients of cervical cancer satisfying our inclusion criteria were treated with concurrent chemo-radiation following ICBT with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions, five to seven days apart. Results: The median follow-up period in the study was 24 months (range 10.6 - 31.2 months). The 2 year actuarial local control rate, disease-free survival and overall survival were 88.1%, 84.2% and 81.8% respectively. Although 38.2% patients suffered from late toxicity, only 3 patients had grade III late toxicity. Conclusions: In our experience, HDR brachytherapy with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions is an effective dose fractionation for the treatment of cervical cancer with acceptable toxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.813-818
• /
• 2014

Aims: To describe our institutional experience with high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) compared with previously reported results on the low dose rate (LDR) practice for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with oral cavity (n=70) or oropharyngeal cancer (n=14) were treated with 192Ir HDR-IBT. Seventy-eight patients had stage I or II tumour. The patients treated with IBT alone (n=42) received 39-42 Gy/10-14 fractions (median=40 Gy/10 fractions). With respect to the combination therapy group (n=42), prescription dose comprised of 12-18 Gy/3-6 fractions (median=15 Gy/5 fractions) for IBT and 40-50 Gy/20-25 fractions (median=50 Gy/25 fractions) for external radiotherapy. Brachytherapy was given as 2 fractions per day 6 hours apart with 4 Gy per fraction for monotherapy and 3 Gy per fraction for combination therapy. Results: Four patients were not evaluable in the analysis of outcome. The primary site relapse rates were 23.8% (10/42) and 68.4% (26/38) in patients treated with IBT alone and combination therapy, respectively (p<0.001). Salvage surgery was performed in 19 patients. The 5-year local control rate was estimated at 62% and the disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 52% for all patients. Local control with respect to T1 and T2 tumours was 84% and 42%, respectively. Conclusions: Our present series on HDR-IBT and the previous report on LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer demonstrated similar DFS rates at 5 years (52%). The rate of regional failure in node-negative patients was <20% in both of our series. HDR-IBT offers similar results to LDR-IBT for head and neck cancer.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2015

We analyzed the differential effects of histopathology, apoptosis and expression of radiation response genes after chronic low dose rate (LDR) and acute high dose rate (HDR) radiation exposure in spleen, lung and liver of rats. Female 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. For chronic low-dose whole body irradiation, rats were maintained for 14 days in a $^{60}Co$ gamma ray irradiated room and received a cumulative dose of 2 Gy or 5 Gy. Rats in the acute whole body exposure group were exposed to an equal dose of radiation delivered as a single pulse ($^{137}Cs$-gamma). At 24 hours after exposure, spleen, lung and liver tissues were extracted for histopathologic examination, western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. 1. The spleen showed the most dramatic differential response to acute and chronic exposure, with the induction of substantial tissue damage by HDR but not by LDR radiation. Effects of LDR radiation on the lung were only apparent at the higher dose (5 Gy), but not at lower dose (2 Gy). In the liver, HDR and LDR exposure induced a similar damage response at both doses. RT-PCR analysis identified cyclin G1 as a LDR-responsive gene in the spleen of rats exposed to 2 Gy and 5 Gy gamma radiation and in the lung of animals irradiated with 5 Gy. 2. The effects of LDR radiation differed among lung, liver, and spleen tissues. The spleen showed the greatest differential effect between HDR and LDR. The response to LDR radiation may involve expression of cyclin G1.