• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 1988

For the physical characterization of neutron beam, dosimetric measurements had been performed to obtain physical data of KCCH cyclotron-produced neutrons for clinical use. The results are presented and compared with the data of other institutions from the literatures. The central axis percent depth dose, build-up curves and open and wedge isodose curve values are intermediate between that of a 4 and 6 MV X-rays. The build-up level of maximum dose was at 1.35cm and entrance dose was approximately $40\%$. Flatness of the beam was $9\%$ at Dmax and less $than{\pm}3\%$ at the depth of $80\%$ isodose line. Penumbra begond the $20\%$ line is wider than corresponding photon beam. The output factors ranged 0.894 for $6\times6cm$ field to 1.187 for $30\times30cm$ field. Gamma contamination of neutron beam was $4.9\%$ at 2 cm depth in $10\times10cm$ field.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.325-335
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• 1998

Purpose : Since the mid cranial fossa is composed of various thickness of bone, the tissue inhomogeneity caused by bone would produce dose attenuation in cobalt-60 gamma knife irradiation. The correction factor for bone attenuation of cobalt-60 which is used for gamma knife source is -3.5$\%$. More importantly, nearly all the radiosurgery treatment planning systems assume a treatment volume of unit density: any perturbation due to tissue inhomogeneity is neglected, This study was performed to confirm the bone attenuation in mid cranial fossa using gamma knife. Materials and Methods : Computed tomography was performed after Leksell stereotactic frame had been liked to the Alderson Rando Phantom (human phantom) skull area. Kodak X-omat V film was inserted into two sites of pituitary adenoma point and acoustic neurinoma point, and irradiated by gamma knife with 14mm and 18mm collimator. An automatic scanning densitometer with a 1mm aperture is used to measure the dose profile along the x and y axis. Results : Isodose curve constriction in mid cranial fossa is observed with various ranges. Pituitary tumor point is greater than acoustic neurinoma point (0.2-3.0 mm vs 0.1-1.3 mm) and generally 14 mm collimator is greater than 18mm collimator (0.4-3.0 mm vs. 0.2-2.2 mm) Even though the isodose constriction is found, constriction of 50$\%$ isodose curve which is used for treatment reference line does not exceed 1 mm. This range is too small to influence the treatment planning and treatment results. Conclusion : Radiosurgery planning system of gamma knife does not show significant error to be corrected without consideration of bone attenuation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2016

Since the head and neck region is densely located with organs at risk (OAR), OAR-sparing is an important issue in the treatment of head and neck cancers. This study-in which different treatment plans were performed varying the head tilt angle on brain tumor patients-investigates the optimal head elevation angle for sparing normal organs (e.g. the hippocampus) and further compares the dosimetric characteristics of different types of radiation equipment. we performed 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and tomotherapy on 10 patients with brain tumors in the frontal lobe while varying the head tilt angle of patients to analyze the dosimetric characteristics of different therapy methods. In each treatment plan, 95% of the tumor volume was irradiated with a dose of 40 Gy in 10 fractions. The step and shoot technique with nine beams was used for IMRT, and the same prescription dose was delivered to the tumor volume for the 3D-CRT and tomotherapy plans. The homogeneity index, conformity index, and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) were calculated. At a head elevation angle of $30^{\circ}$, conformity of the isodose curve to the target increased on average by 53%, 8%, and 5.4%. In 3D-CRT, the maximum dose received by the brain stem decreased at $15^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$, compared to that observed at $0^{\circ}$. The NTCP value of the hippocampus observed in each modality was the highest at a head and neck angle of $0^{\circ}$ and the lowest at $30^{\circ}$. This study demonstrates that the elevation of the patients' head tilt angle in radiation therapy improves the target region's homogeneity of dose distribution by increasing the tumor control rate and conformity of the isodose curve to the target. Moreover, the study shows that the elevation of the head tilt angle lowers the NTCP by separating the tumor volume from the normal tissues, which helps spare OARs and reduce the delivered dose to the hippocampus.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 1997

Purpose : Before we report the results of curative radiotherapy in cervix cancer patients, we review the significance and safety of our dose specification methods in the brachytherapy system to have the insight of the potential Predictive value of doses at specified points. Matersials and Methods : We analyze the 리5 cases of cervix cancer patients treated with intracavitary brachytherapy in the lateral simulation film we draw the isodose curve and observe the absorbed dose rate of point A, the reference point of bladder(SBD) and rectum(SRD). In the sagittal view of Pelvic MRI film we demarcate the tumor volume(TV) and determine whether the prescription dose curve of point A covers the tumor volume adequately by drawing the isodose curve as correctly as possible. Also we estimate the maximum Point dose of bladder(MBD) and rectum(MRD) and calculate the inclusion area where the absorbed dose rate is higher than that of point A in the bladder(HBV) and rectum(HRV), respectively. Results : Of forty-five cases, the isodose curve of point A seems to cover tumor volume optimally in only 24(53%). The optimal tumor coverage seems to be associated not with the stage of the disease but with the tumor volume. There is no statistically significant association between SBD/SRD and MBD/MRD, respectively. SRD has statistically marginally significant association with HRV, while TV has statistically significant association with HBV and HRV. Conclusion : Our current treatment calculation methods seem to have the defect in the aspects of the nonoptimal coverage of the bulky tumor and the inappropriate estimation of bladder dose. We therefore need to modify the applicator geometry to optimize the dose distribution at the position of lower tandem source. Also it appears that the position of the bladder in relation to the applicators needs to be defined individually to define 'hot spots'.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2010

High energy electron beams were to concentrically dose inside a tumor and more energy is a shape decreased of dose. Therefore, it is useful to radiation therapy of a tumor. Also high energy electron beams ionized into collision with a atom in structure material of tissue and it has big changes to dose distribution by multiple scattering. The study had to establish characteristic of electron beams from interaction of electron beams and materials. Experiment method was to measure dependence of electron beam central axis for depth dose curve, field flatness and symmetry and field size dependence. The results were able to evaluate data for a datum pint of electron beam. Also radiotherapy has to be considered for not only energy pencil of lines but characteristic, electron guide and isodose curves distribution.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 1996

Purpose : The accurate dosimetry of independent collimator equipped for 6MV and 15MV X-ray beam was investigated to search for the optimal correction factor. Materials and Methods : The field size factors, beam quality and dose distribution were measured by using 6MV, 15MV X-ray Field size factors were measured from $3{\times}3cm^2$ to $35{\times}35cm^2$ by using 0.6cc ion chamber (NE 2571) at Dmax. Beam qualities were measured at different field sizes, off-axis distances and depths. Isodose distributions at different off-axis distance using $10\times10cm^2$ field were also investigated and compared with symmetric field. Result: 1) Relative field size factors was different along lateral distance with maximum changes in $3.1\%$ for 6MV and $5\%$ for 15MV. But the field size factors of asymmetric fields were identical to the modified central-axis values in symmetric field, which corrected by off-axis ratio at Dmax. 2) The HVL and PDD was decreased by increasing off-axis distance. PDD was also decreased by increasing depth For field size more than $5{\times}cm^2$ and depth less than 15cm, PDD of asymmetric field differs from that of symmetric one ($0.5\~2\%$ for 6MV and $0.4\~1.4\%$ for 15MV). 3) The measured isodose curves demonstrate divergence effects and reduced doses adjacent to the edge close to the flattening filter center was also observed. Conclusion . When asymmetric collimator is used, calculation of MU must be corrected with off-axis and PDD with a caution of underdose in central axis.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2003

The goal of a radiation treatment plan is to deliver a homogeneous dose to a target with minimal irradiation of the adjacent normal tissues. Dose uniformity is especially important for stereotactic radiosurgery using a linear accelerator. The dose uniformity and high dose delivery of a single spherical dose distribution exceed 70％. This also results with a similar stereotactic radiosurgical plan using a Gamma Knife. The dose distribution produced in a stereotactic radiosurgical plan using a Gamma Knife and Linear accelerator is spherical, and the application of the sphere packing arrangement in a real radiosurgical plan requires much time and skill. In this study, we found a characteristic of dose distribution with transformation of beam parameters that must be considered in a radiosurgical plan for effective radiosurgery. First, we assumed a cylinder type tumor model and a cube type tumor model. Secondly, the results of the tumor models were compared and analyzed with dose profiles and DVH_(Dose Volume Histogram) representative dose distribution. We found the optimal composition of beam parameters_(i.e. collimator size, number of isocenter, gap of isocenters etc.), which allowed the tumor models to be involved in the isodose curve at a high level. In conclusion, the characteristics found in this study are helpful for improving the effectiveness and speed of a radiosurgical plan for stereotactic radiosurgery.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2004

The Monte Carlo simulation requires very much time to obtain a result of acceptable accuracy. Therefore we should know the optimum number of history not to sacrifice time as well as the accuracy. In this study, we have investigated the effects of statistical uncertainties of the photon dose calculation. BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc systems were used for the Monte Carlo dose calculation and the case of mediastinum was simulated. The several dose calculation result from various number of histories had been obtained and analyzed using the criteria of isodose curve comparison, dose volume histogram comparison(DVH) and root mean-square differences(RMSD). Statistical uncertainties were observed most evidently in isodose curve comparison and RMSD while DVHs were less sensitive. The acceptable uncertainties $(\bar{{\Delta}D})$ of the Monte Carlo photon dose calculation for the radiation therapy were estimated within total 9% error or 1% error for over than $D_{max}/2$ voxels or voxels at maximum dose.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 1989

Fletcher-Suit colpostat has an internal structure to reduce dose to bladder and rectum. Some programs were developed to calculate dose at any point in water in three dimension around the colpostat containing Cs-137 tube, to find the shielding effect to dose by the internal structure, and to draw isodose curves and iso-shielding effect curves. Computer was an IBM compatible AT with EGA card and language was MS-Basic V6.0, Material, shape and geometry of the strucure, tube and colpostat were considered in algorithm for calculation of dose. Dose rates per unit mg. Ra. eq. in water calculated by a program were stored in auxiliary memory devices and retrieved in another programs. Isodose curves on medial side shrinked. Dose distribution was not symmetric about a transverse axis bisecting the colpostat. Reduction of dose was more excessive on top side than on bottom. Iso-shielding effect curve showed that the shielding effect was higher on top side than on bottom, and that there was shielding effect over almost all area of medial side. Such results were related to both shifted position of tube in the colpostat and asymmetric distribution of active source in the tube. Maximum of shielding effect was $49\%$ on top side and $44\%$ on bottom side. The direction of iso-shielding effect curve was generally radial from the center of active source. In treatment planning using Fletcher-Suit colpostat, the internal structure should be considered to find precise doses to bladder and rectum, etc.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2003

Purpose: The Planning of High-Dose-Rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments are becoming individualized and more dependent on the treatment planning system. Therefore, computer software has been developed to perform independent point dose calculations with the integration of an isodose distribution curve display into the patient anatomy images. Meterials and Methods: As primary input data, the program takes patients'planning data including the source dwell positions, dwell times and the doses at reference points, computed by an HDR treatment planning system (TPS). Dosimetric calculations were peformed in a $10\times12\times10\;Cm^3$ grid space using the Interstitial Collaborative Working Group (ICWG) formalism and an anisotropy table for the HDR Iridium-192 source. The computed doses at the reference points were automatically compared with the relevant results of the TPS. The MR and simulation film images were then imported and the isodose distributions on the axial, sagittal and coronal planes intersecting the point selected by a user were superimposed on the imported images and then displayed. The accuracy of the software was tested in three benchmark plans peformed by Gamma-Med 12i TPS (MDS Nordion, Germany). Nine patients'plans generated by Plato (Nucletron Corporation, The Netherlands) were verified by the developed software. Results: The absolute doses computed by the developed software agreed with the commercial TPS results within an accuracy of $2.8\%$ in the benchmark plans. The isodose distribution plots showed excellent agreements with the exception of the tip legion of the source's longitudinal axis where a slight deviation was observed. In clinical plans, the secondary dose calculations had, on average, about a $3.4\%$ deviation from the TPS plans. Conclusion: The accurate validation of complicate treatment plans is possible with the developed software and the qualify of the HDR treatment plan can be improved with the isodose display integrated into the patient anatomy information.