• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

The mechanics underlying photon and electron interactions was validated using our developed Brachytherapy computer code for high Dose Rate (HDR). By comparing the photon cross-section utilizing multiple physics libraries in the developed code, the results were benchmarked against experimental and theoretical findings. Klein-Nishina and experimental cross-section results were in good agreement with the Livermore library results. For two therapeutically relevant materials, the first scattered electron range was measured within 1 mm and 2 mm, which has significant implications for the interpretation of the kernel dose spikes observed in previous research.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제73권6호
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• pp.325-330
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• 2012

High-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) have been used as the treatment of early endobronchial cancer, as well as for palliation of advanced cancer. However, fatal hemoptysis can occur after HDREB at the rate of 7~32%. We report a case of massive hemoptysis due to radiation bronchitis developed after HDREB. A 67-year-old man was treated with HDREB for early endobronchial cancer on the left upper lobe bronchus. He complained of persistent cough from 4 weeks after completion of HDREB. Radiation bronchitis was observed on the bronchoscopy at 34 weeks, and it was progressed from mucosal swelling and exudate formation to necrosis and ulceration without local relapse. In addition, he died of massive hemoptysis after 15 months. The patient had no sign or radiologic evidences to predict the hemoptysis. This case implies that HDREB directly contributes to an occurrence of a fatal hemoptysis, and follow-up bronchoscopy is important to predict a progression of radiation bronchitis and fatal hemoptysis.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

대다수의 근접치료용 방사선치료계획장치는 AAPM TG-43의 계산식에 기반을 둔 선량계산 알고리듬을 적용하고 있으나 이는 조직의 비균질성을 적절히 고려하지 못한다. 본 연구에서는 몬테칼로 방법을 이용하여 강내고선량근접치료계획을 검증하는 체계를 구축하고자 하였으며, 특히 환자의 CT 영상을 이용하여 물질정보로 변환한 후 직접 몬테칼로 계산을 수행하는 방법의 타당성에 초점을 맞추었다. 판형 팬텀 및 자궁경부암 환자의 CT 영상을 Plato (Nucletron, Netherlands) 치료계획장치를 이용하여 근접치료계획을 수행한 후 여기서 얻어진 인자들을 이용하여 EGSnrc 기반의 DOSXYZnrc 코드로 몬테칼로 계산을 수행하였으며, EBT 필름측정 결과와 비교하였다. DOSXYZnrc 코드의 선원 모델링 특성 상 후장전 장치의 $^{192}Ir$ 선원들을 직육면체 형태로 근사화하여 모델링하였으며 계산 시 체적소의 크기는 $2{\times}2{\times}2\;mm^3$로 하였다. 균질 매질 내에서는 TG-43 기반의 선량계산 결과와 몬테칼로 선량계산 결과가 잘 일치함을 확인할 수 있었으나 고밀도 물질이 포함된 비균질 매질 내에서는 오차가 커졌다. 환자의 경우 A점 및 B점의 오차는 3% 이내, 평균선량 오차는 5% 정도였다. 그러나 기존 선량계산 알고리듬의 경우 고밀도 물질의 영향을 적절히 고려하지 못하여 표적의 선량을 과대평가하여 실제로는 더 적은 선량이 들어갈 우려가 있다. 본 연구에서 제안된 선량계산 검증체계는 타당하며 선량 계산 결과도 실제와 잘 일치함을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 기존의 선량계산 알고리듬으로 계산된 치료계획결과를 확인할 경우에는 주의가 필요하며, 몬테칼로 방법과 같은 독립적인 검증 시스템이 유용할 것이다.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국의학물리학회 2003년도 제27회 추계학술대회
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• pp.53-53
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• 2003

For evaluating the feasibility of treating recurrent lesions in the vaginal cuff and cervix by hyperthermia, ultrasound applicators were designed, constructed, and characterized. For the treatment A half-cylindrical transducer Cd=1cm, length=lcm) and cylindrical transducer (d=2.5cm, length= 1.5cm) were used to construct ovoid type and cylindrical applicators. For the ovoid type applicator, each element was operated at 1.5MHz and characterized by measuring transducer efficiency and acoustic power distribution. Thermocouple probes were used to measure the temperature rise in phantom. The element sizes used in this study were selected to be comparable for high dose rate brachytherapy colpostat applicator. Each element was powered separately to achieve a desired temperature pattern in a target. The acoustic output power as a function of applied electric power of the element 1 and 2 was linear over this 1 to 40 W range and efficiencies were 32.2${\pm}$3.4% and 46.2${\pm}$0.8%, respectively. The temperature measurements in phantom showed that 6$^{\circ}C$ temperature rise was achieved at 2 cm from the applicator surface. As a conclusion, the ability of the ultrasound colpostat applicator to be used for hyperthermia was demonstrated by measuring acoustic output power, ultrasound field distribution, and temperature rise in phantom. Based on the characteristics of this applicator, it has the potential to be useful for inducing hyperthermnia to the vaginal cuff in clinic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4717-4721
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• 2014

Background: Dosimetric comparison of two dimensional (2D) radiography and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) based dose distributions with high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitry radiotherapy (ICRT) for carcinoma cervix, in terms of target coverage and doses to bladder and rectum. Materials and Methods: Sixty four sessions of HDR ICRT were performed in 22 patients. External beam radiotherapy to pelvis at a dose of 50 Gray in 27 fractions followed by HDR ICRT, 21 Grays to point A in 3 sessions, one week apart was planned. All patients underwent 2D-orthogonal and 3D-CT simulation for each session. Treatment plans were generated using 2D-orthogonal images and dose prescription was made at point A. 3D plans were generated using 3D-CT images after delineating target volume and organs at risk. Comparative evaluation of 2D and 3D treatment planning was made for each session in terms of target coverage (dose received by 90%, 95% and 100% of the target volume: D90, D95 and D100 respectively) and doses to bladder and rectum: ICRU-38 bladder and rectum point dose in 2D planning and dose to 0.1cc, 1cc, 2cc, 5cc, and 10cc of bladder and rectum in 3D planning. Results: Mean doses received by 100% and 90% of the target volume were $4.24{\pm}0.63$ and $4.9{\pm}0.56$ Gy respectively. Doses received by 0.1cc, 1cc and 2cc volume of bladder were $2.88{\pm}0.72$, $2.5{\pm}0.65$ and $2.2{\pm}0.57$ times more than the ICRU bladder reference point. Similarly, doses received by 0.1cc, 1cc and 2cc of rectum were $1.80{\pm}0.5$, $1.48{\pm}0.41$ and $1.35{\pm}0.37$ times higher than ICRU rectal reference point. Conclusions: Dosimetric comparative evaluation of 2D and 3D CT based treatment planning for the same brachytherapy session demonstrates underestimation of OAR doses and overestimation of target coverage in 2D treatment planning.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2002

항문암 및 자궁경부암 치료시 사용되는 고선량률 강내 근접치료기와 병행하여 사용할 원통형 초음파 온열치료가 개발되었다. 온열치료를 위한 에너지원으로 원통형 트랜스듀서가(PZT-8 물질, 길이=1.5 cm 두께=1.5 mm 외경= 2.5cm) 사용되었다. PZT-8 물질의 특성을 측정하기위해 세 개의 단일 엘리멘트 어플리케이터가 제작되었다. PZT 물질을 작동하기 위한 주파수를 결정하기 위하여 벡터 임피던스가 측정되었다. 선택된 물질이 온열치료에 사용될 수 있는지 가능성을 타진하기위해 방사능력을 측정하는 방법으로 각 엘리맨트의 초음파발생 효율을 입력한 전기량과 발생한 초음파량의 비로 계산하였다. 마지막으로 질암의 온열치료에 사용할 수 있는 다채널 초음파 치료기가 디자인 되었다. 임피던스 실험결과 각 엘리맨트 1, 2, 그리고 3에 대해 1.78, 1.77, 그리고 1.77 MHz의 주파수에서 최대 임피더스 값을 얻었다. 방사능력 측정 실험결과 본 연구에서 사용된 에너지 소스는 40와트 이상의 초음파량이 방출되었다. 또한 각 엘리맨트 1, 2, 그리고 3의 평균 효율은 61.4, 65.2, 그리고 54.0% 이다. 본 연구에서 디자인되어진 원통형 초음파 치료기는 질 또는 항문 치료 시 고선량 강내근접치료와 더불어 사용할 수 있음이 증명되었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 개발된 온열 치료기구가 고 선량 강내 근접치료와 함께 사용하여 병변조직의 방사능 민감도를 증가시켜 암 치료효율을 높일수 있다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권12호
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• pp.5075-5079
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• 2015

Background: Adverse effects of treatment prolongation beyond 8 weeks with radiotherapy for cervical cancer have been established. Clinical data also show that cisplatin increases the biologically effective dose of radiotherapy. However, there are no data on the effect of overall treatment time in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) in an Indian population. The present study concerned the feasibility of concurrent chemotherapy and interspacing brachytherapy during the course of external radiotherapy to reduce the overall treatment time and compare the normal tissue toxicity and loco-regional control with a conventional schedule. Materials and Methods: Between January 2009 and March 2012 fifty patients registered in the Gynaecologic Oncology Clinic of Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital with locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stage IIB-IIIB) were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated to treatment arms based on a computer generated random number. Arm I (n=25) treatment consisted of irradiation of the whole pelvis to a dose of 50 Gy in 27 fractions, and weekly cisplatin $40mg/m^2$. High dose rate intra-cavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) was performed after one week of completion of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The prescribed dose for each session was 7Gy to point A for three insertions at one week intervals. Arm II (n=25) treatment consisted of irradiation of the whole pelvis to a dose of 50 Gy in 27 fractions. Mention HDR-ICBT ICRT was performed after 40Gy and 7Gy was delivered to point A for three insertions (days 23, 30, 37) at one week intervals. Cisplatin $20mg/m^2/day$ was administered from D1-5 and D24-28. Overall treatment time was taken from first day of EBRT to last day of HDR brachytherapy. The overall loco-regional response rate (ORR) was determined at 3 and 6 months. Results: A total of 46 patients completed the planned treatment. The overall treatment times in arm I and arm II were $65{\pm}12$ and $48{\pm}4$ days, respectively (p=0.001). At three and six months of follow-up the ORR for arm I was 96% while that for arm II was 88%. No statistically significant difference was apparent between the two arms. The overall rate of grade ${\geq}3$ toxicity was numerically higher in arm I (n=7) than in arm II (n=4) though statistical significance was not reached. None of the predefined prognostic factors like age, performance status, baseline haemoglobin level, tumour size, lymph node involvement, stage or histopathological subtype showed any impact on outcome. Conclusions: In the setting of concurrent chemoradiotherapy a shorter treatment schedule of 48 days may be feasible by interspacing brachytherapy during external irradiation. The response rates and toxicities were comparable.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권13호
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• pp.5259-5264
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• 2014

Background: CT based brachytherapy allows 3-dimensional (3D) assessment of organs at risk (OAR) doses with dose volume histograms (DVHs). The purpose of this study was to compare computed tomography (CT) based volumetric calculations and International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) reference-point estimates of radiation doses to the bladder and rectum in patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). Materials and Methods: Between March 2011 and May 2012, 20 patients were treated with 55 fractions of brachytherapy using tandem and ovoids and underwent post-implant CT scans. The external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) dose was 48.6Gy in 27 fractions. HDR brachytherapy was delivered to a dose of 21 Gy in three fractions. The ICRU bladder and rectum point doses along with 4 additional rectal points were recorded. The maximum dose ($D_{Max}$) to rectum was the highest recorded dose at one of these five points. Using the HDRplus 2.6 brachyhtherapy treatment planning system, the bladder and rectum were retrospectively contoured on the 55 CT datasets. The DVHs for rectum and bladder were calculated and the minimum doses to the highest irradiated 2cc area of rectum and bladder were recorded ($D_{2cc}$) for all individual fractions. The mean $D_{2cc}$ of rectum was compared to the means of ICRU rectal point and rectal $D_{Max}$ using the Student's t-test. The mean $D_{2cc}$ of bladder was compared with the mean ICRU bladder point using the same statistical test. The total dose, combining EBRT and HDR brachytherapy, were biologically normalized to the conventional 2 Gy/fraction using the linear-quadratic model. (${\alpha}/{\beta}$ value of 10 Gy for target, 3 Gy for organs at risk). Results: The total prescribed dose was $77.5Gy{\alpha}/{\beta}10$. The mean dose to the rectum was $4.58{\pm}1.22Gy$ for $D_{2cc}$, $3.76{\pm}0.65Gy$ at $D_{ICRU}$ and $4.75{\pm}1.01Gy$ at $D_{Max}$. The mean rectal $D_{2cc}$ dose differed significantly from the mean dose calculated at the ICRU reference point (p<0.005); the mean difference was 0.82 Gy (0.48-1.19Gy). The mean EQD2 was $68.52{\pm}7.24Gy_{{\alpha}/{\beta}3}$ for $D_{2cc}$, $61.71{\pm}2.77Gy_{{\alpha}/{\beta}3}$ at $D_{ICRU}$ and $69.24{\pm}6.02Gy_{{\alpha}/{\beta}3}$ at $D_{Max}$. The mean ratio of $D_{2cc}$ rectum to $D_{ICRU}$ rectum was 1.25 and the mean ratio of $D_{2cc}$ rectum to $D_{Max}$ rectum was 0.98 for all individual fractions. The mean dose to the bladder was $6.00{\pm}1.90Gy$ for $D_{2cc}$ and $5.10{\pm}2.03Gy$ at $D_{ICRU}$. However, the mean $D_{2cc}$ dose did not differ significantly from the mean dose calculated at the ICRU reference point (p=0.307); the mean difference was 0.90 Gy (0.49-1.25Gy). The mean EQD2 was $81.85{\pm}13.03Gy_{{\alpha}/{\beta}3}$ for $D_{2cc}$ and $74.11{\pm}19.39Gy_{{\alpha}/{\beta}3}$ at $D_{ICRU}$. The mean ratio of $D_{2cc}$ bladder to $D_{ICRU}$ bladder was 1.24. In the majority of applications, the maximum dose point was not the ICRU point. On average, the rectum received 77% and bladder received 92% of the prescribed dose. Conclusions: OARs doses assessed by DVH criteria were higher than ICRU point doses. Our data suggest that the estimated dose to the ICRU bladder point may be a reasonable surrogate for the $D_{2cc}$ and rectal $D_{Max}$ for $D_{2cc}$. However, the dose to the ICRU rectal point does not appear to be a reasonable surrogate for the $D_{2cc}$.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.67-74
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• 1994

선량분포특성은 거리의 제곱에 반비례하기 때문에 근접조사에서 선원의 조그마한 오차는 선량계산에서 큰 차이를 초래할 수 있어서 선원의 정확한 거리 이동과 그에 따른 critical organ에 조사되는 선량의 정확도는 자궁경부암 환자의 치료성적에 결정적인 역할을 할 수가 있다. 특히 High Dose Rate의 RALS(Remote After Loading System)에서 선원의 정확한 calibration은 자궁경부암 환자의 치료에서 선량분포에 지대한 영향을 미치며 나아가 이 선량분포는 치료후 나타나는 재발 및 합병증이나 휴유증의 발생에도 큰 영향을 미치게 된다. 본 연구에서는 실제 RALS시 선원의 거리 이동을 측정하여 치료계획용 computer에서 계산된 선원간의 거리 이동과 비교 검토하였으며 Rectum 위치에 chamber를 삽입하여 실제 Rectum에 조사되는 선량과 computer에서 계산된 값들을 비교검토하였다. Tandem Source을 1cm 간격으로 거리를 이동하면서 실험을 되풀이 한 결과 처음 monitor로 1cm을 이동할 때 측정치가 0.8cm 이동한 것으로 나타났으며, 2번째부터 5번째까지의 거리 이동에서는 monitor의 값과 측정치의 값이 정확하게 일치하였다. 또한 12명의 환자를 대상으로 실시한 Rectum dose의 측정치는 computer계산치보다 평균 8%로 낮게 나타났다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.156-160
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• 2004

고선량률 후 장착 근접치료 과정에서의 필수적인 정도 관리(QA) 과정은 Ir-192 선원 위치의 정확성을 검증하는 것이다. 눈금자나 방사선 사진(autoradiograph), 비디오 모니터(video monitor) 등을 이용한 여러 방법들이 Ir-192 선원의 위치적인 오차를 점검하기 위해 사용됨이 보고되고 있다. 본 논문에서는, fluorescent screen 과 CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) PC 카메라를 이용하는 방법을 새로운 고선량률 근접치료의 정도 관리 (QA) 도구로 사용할 수 있는 가능성에 대해 연구하였다. 계획된 dwell position 과 그 측정값은 1 mm 이내에서 일치함을 보였고, dwell time의 정확성은 0.4초 이내였다. 이번 연구의 결과는 CMOS PC 카메라를 사용하여 새롭게 제작된 정도 관리(QA) 시스템이 선원의 위치와 dwell time점검이 실시간으로 가능한 정도 관리(QA) 도구로 사용될 수 있음을 보여준다.