• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2015

For evaluating the treatment planning accurately, the quality assurance for treatment planning is recommended when patients were treated with IMRT which is complex and delicate. To realize this purpose, treatment plan quality assurance software can be used to verify the delivered dose accurately before and after of treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of treatment plan quality assurance software for each IMRT plan according to MLC DLG (dosimetric leaf gap). Novalis Tx with a built-in HD120 MLC was used in this study to acquire the MLC dynalog file be imported in MobiusFx. To establish IMRT plan, Eclipse RTP system was used and target and organ structures (multi-target, mock prostate, mock head/neck, C-shape case) were contoured in I'mRT phantom. To verify the difference of dose distribution according to DLG, MLC dynalog files were imported to MobiusFx software and changed the DLG (0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, 1.6 mm) values in MobiusFx. For evaluation dose, dose distribution was evaluated by using 3D gamma index for the gamma criteria 3% and distance to agreement 3 mm, and the point dose was acquired by using the CC13 ionization chamber in isocenter of I'mRT phantom. In the result for point dose, the mock head/neck and multi-target had difference about 4% and 3% in DLG 0.5 and 0.7 mm respectively, and the other DLGs had difference less than 3%. The gamma index passing-rate of mock head/neck were below 81% for PTV and cord, and multi-target were below 30% for center and superior target in DLGs 0.5, 0.7 mm, however, inferior target of multi-target case and parotid of mock head/neck case had 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. The point dose of mock prostate showed difference below 3.0% in all DLGs, however, the passing rate of PTV were below 95% in 0.5, 0.7 mm DLGs, and the other DLGs were above 98%. The rectum and bladder had 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. As the difference of point dose in C-shape were 3~9% except for 1.3 mm DLG, the passing rate of PTV in 1.0 1.3 mm were 96.7, 93.0% respectively. However, passing rate of the other DLGs were below 86% and core was 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. In this study, we verified that the accuracy of treatment planning QA system can be affected by DLG values. For precise quality assurance for treatment technique using the MLC motion like IMRT and VMAT, we should use appropriate DLG value in linear accelerator and RTP system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.138-140
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• 2002

The spinal cord dose is the one of the limiting factor for the radiation treatment of the head & neck (H&N) or the thorax region. Due to the fact that the cord is the elongated shaped structure, it is not an easy task to maintain the cord dose within the clinically acceptable dose range. To overcome this problem, the spinal cord partial block technique (PBT) with the dynamic Multi-Leaf Collimator (dMLC) has been developed. Three dimension (3D) conformal beam directions, which minimize the coverage of the normal organs such as the lung and the parotid gland, were chosen. The PBT field shape for each field was designed to shield the spinal cord with the dMLC. The transmission factors were determined by the forward calculation method. The plan comparisons between the conventional 3D conformal therapy plan and the PTB plan were performed to evaluate the validity of this technique. The conformity index (CI) and the dose volume histogram (DVH) were used as the plan comparison indices. A series of quality assurance (QA) was performed to guarantee the reliable treatment. The QA consisted of the film dosimetry for the verification of the dose distribution and the point measurements. The PBT plan always generated better results than the conventional 3D conformal plan. The PBT was proved to be useful for the H&N and thorax region.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.218-223
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• 2002

Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial lesion is well established since the Lars Leksell first introduced radiosurgery concept in 1951 Its use in the treatment of spinal lesion has been limited by the availability of effective immobilization devices. The first clinical experience of the spinal stereotactic radiosurgery technique was reported by Hamilton AJ. in 1995. Recently, Optic-guided patient positioning technique for extracranial stereotactic radiosurgery was developed and reported. This study is for assess the target positioning accuracy of the optic guided patient positioning system Exactrac (BrainLab., Inc, Germany). We have designed phantom for assess the accuracy of spinal stereotactic radiosurgery The infrared reflective body markers attached to the relatively immobile part of the body and a series of 2 mm CT images was taken. The image sets were transferred to the planning computer. During the radiosurgery treatment, we measure the real-time display showing the positioning values from Exactrac computer. And we compare the isocenter deviation from irradiated center point of the film which was mounted on the lesion site of the phantom and pin hole site of that film. The accuracy of the ExacTrac system in positioning a target point shows enough for the clinical applications.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.431-441
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to construct a model of MVCT(Megavoltage Computed Tomography) dose calculation by using Dosimetry Check™, a program that radiation treatment dose verification, and establish a protocol that can be accumulated to the radiation treatment dose distribution. We acquired sinogram of MVCT after air scan in Fine, Normal, Coarse mode. Dosimetry Check™(DC) program can analyze only DICOM(Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine) format, however acquired sinogram is dat format. Thus, we made MVCT RC-DICOM format by using acquired sinogram. In addition, we made MVCT RP-DICOM by using principle of generating MLC(Multi-leaf Collimator) control points at half location of pitch in treatment RP-DICOM. The MVCT imaging dose in fine mode was measured by using ionization chamber, and normalized to the MVCT dose calculation model, the MVCT imaging dose of Normal, Coarse mode was calculated by using DC program. As a results, 2.08 cGy was measured by using ionization chamber in Fine mode and normalized based on the measured dose in DC program. After normalization, the result of MVCT dose calculation in Normal, Coarse mode, each mode was calculated 0.957, 0.621 cGy. Finally, the dose resulting from the process for acquisition of MVCT can be accumulated to the treatment dose distribution for dose evaluation. It is believed that this could be contribute clinically to a more realistic dose evaluation. From now on, it is considered that it will be able to provide more accurate and realistic dose information in radiation therapy planning evaluation by using Tomotherapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2020

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) has disadvantages such as increasing the low doses of irradiation to normal tissues and accumulated dose for the whole volume by leakage and transmission of the Multi Leaf Collimator (MLC). The accumulated dose and low dose may increase the occurrence of secondary malignant neoplasms. For this reasons, the jaw tracking function of the TrueBeam (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) was developed to reduce the leakage and transmission dose of the MLC with existing linear accelerators. But quantitative analysis of the dose reduction has not been verified. Therefore, in the present study, we intended to verify the clinical possibility of utilizing the jaw tracking function in brain tumor with comparison of treatment plans. To accomplish this, 3 types of original treatment plans were made using Eclipse11 (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA): 1) beyond 2 cm distance from the Organs At Risk (OARs); 2) within 2 cm distance from the OARs; and 3) intersecting with the OARs. Jaw tracking treatment plans were also made with copies of the original treatment planning using Smart LMC Version 11.0.31 (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). A comparison between the 2 types of treatment planning methods was performed using the difference of the mean dose and maximum dose to the OARs in cumulative Dose Volume Histogram (DVH). In the DVH comparison, the maximum difference of 0.5 % was observed between the planning methods in the case of over 2 cm distance, and the maximum of 0.6 % was obtained for within the 2 cm distance. For the case intersecting with the OAR, the maximum difference of 2 % was achieved. According to these results, it could be realized that the differences of mean dose and maximum dose to the OARs was larger when the OARs and PTV were closer. Therefore, treatment plans with the jaw tracking function consistently affected the dose reduction and the clinical possibility could be verified.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-102
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• 2009

Purpose: To compare the accuracy and efficacy of EDR2 film, a 2D ionization chamber array (MatriXX) and an amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in the pre-treatment QA of IMRT. Materials and Methods: Fluence patterns, shaped as a wedge with 10 steps (segments) by a multi-leaf collimator (MLC), of reference and test IMRT fields were measured using EDR2 film, the MatriXX, and EPID. Test fields were designed to simulate leaf positioning errors. The absolute dose at a point in each step of the reference fields was measured in a water phantom with an ionization chamber and was compared to the dose obtained with the use of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID. For qualitative analysis, all measured fluence patterns of both reference and test fields were compared with calculated dose maps from a radiation treatment planning system (Pinnacle, Philips, USA) using profiles and $\gamma$ evaluation with 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria. By measurement of the time to perform QA, we compared the workload of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID. Results: The percent absolute dose difference between the measured and ionization chamber dose was within 1% for the EPID, 2% for the MatriXX and 3% for EDR2 film. The percentage of pixels with $\gamma$%>1 for the 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria was within 2% for use of both EDR2 film and the EPID. However, differences for the use of the MatriXX were seen with a maximum difference as great as 5.94% with the 2%/2 mm criteria. For the test fields, EDR2 film and EPID could detect leaf-positioning errors on the order of -3 mm and -2 mm, respectively. However it was difficult to differentiate leaf-positioning errors with the MatriXX due to its poor resolution. The approximate time to perform QA was 110 minutes for the use of EDR2 film, 80 minutes for the use of the MatriXX and approximately 55 minutes for the use of the EPID. Conclusion: This study has evaluated the accuracy and efficacy of EDR2 film, the MatriXX and EPID in the pre-treatment verification of IMRT. EDR2 film and the EPID showed better performance for accuracy, while the use of the MatriXX significantly reduced measurement and analysis times. We propose practical and useful methods to establish an effective QA system in a clinical environment.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2009

Radiation treatment techniques using photon beam such as three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) as well as intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment (IMRT) demand accurate dose calculation in order to increase target coverage and spare healthy tissue. Both jaw collimator and multi-leaf collimators (MLCs) for photon beams have been used to achieve such goals. In the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system (TPS), which we are using in our clinics, a set of model parameters like jaw collimator transmission factor (JTF) and MLC transmission factor (MLCTF) are determined from the measured data because it is using a model-based photon dose algorithm. However, model parameters obtained by this auto-modeling process can be different from those by direct measurement, which can have a dosimetric effect on the dose distribution. In this paper we estimated JTF and MLCTF obtained by the auto-modeling process in the Pinnacle3 TPS. At first, we obtained JTF and MLCTF by direct measurement, which were the ratio of the output at the reference depth under the closed jaw collimator (MLCs for MLCTF) to that at the same depth with the field size $10{\times}10\;cm^2$ in the water phantom. And then JTF and MLCTF were also obtained by auto-modeling process. And we evaluated the dose difference through phantom and patient study in the 3D-CRT plan. For direct measurement, JTF was 0.001966 for 6 MV and 0.002971 for 10 MV, and MLCTF was 0.01657 for 6 MV and 0.01925 for 10 MV. On the other hand, for auto-modeling process, JTF was 0.001983 for 6 MV and 0.010431 for 10 MV, and MLCTF was 0.00188 for 6 MV and 0.00453 for 10 MV. JTF and MLCTF by direct measurement were very different from those by auto-modeling process and even more reasonable considering each beam quality of 6 MV and 10 MV. These different parameters affect the dose in the low-dose region. Since the wrong estimation of JTF and MLCTF can lead some dosimetric error, comparison of direct measurement and auto-modeling of JTF and MLCTF would be helpful during the beam commissioning.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2010

In Republic of Korea, there are many Quality Assurance protocol for general radiation treatment machine such as linac. However, Quality Assurance protocol for radiosurgery treatment system is not ready perfectly. One of the radiation treatment machine for radiosurgery, novalis system needs to suitable Quality Assurance protocol for using it right way during radiation treatment and maintaining suitable accuracy for daily, weekly, monthly and annually periods. Therefore, in this article, we develop Quality Assurance protocol for novalis system. We collected and analysed domestic and foreign novalis Quality Assurance protocol. After that, we selected essential QA items and each tolerance range for developing proper QA protocol, and we made anatomical phantom for execution of selected QA items and evaluation of overall state of QA, and then, we use this measured value as a reference. Quality Assurance items are consisted of Mechanical accuracy QA part and Radiation delivery QA part. Mechanical accuracy QA part is comprised of radiation generation machine part, assistive devices part and multi-leaf collimator part. Radiation delivery QA part is divided into radiation isocenter accuracy and dosimetric evaluation. After that, developed novalis QA tables are made by using these QA items. These novalis QA tables would be used to good standard in order to maintain apt accuracy for radiosurgery in daily, weekly, monthly and annually periods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2018

Dose rate regulated tracking is known to be an efficient method which adaptively delivers tracking treatments when patient breathing is irregular. The Motion Management Interface (MMI, Varian Medical System, CA), which provides beam on/off switching during treatment is available for clinic. Study is to test if delivering the adaptive tumor tracking is feasible for irregular breathing using beam switching with MMI. 55 free breathing RPM traces acquired from lung cancer patients are used. The first day RPM traces of the patients are utilized to design preprogrammed tracking MLC patterns, of which periods are intentionally reduced by 20% in order to catch up the variation of patient breathing irregularity in the treatment day. Eligibility criteria for this technique are the variation of amplitude and period less than 20%. An algorithm which determines beam on/off every 100 ms by considering the preprogrammed (MLC) positions and current breathing positions is developed. Tracking error and delivery efficacy are calculated by simulating the beam-switching adaptive tracking from the RPM traces. Breathing patterns of 38 patients (70%) met the eligibility criteria. Tracking errors of all of the cases who meet the criteria are less than 2 mm (average 1.4 mm) and the average delivery efficacy was 71%. Those of rest of the cases are 1.9 mm and 48%. Adaptive tracking with beam switching is feasible if patient selection is based on the eligibility criteria.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.192-200
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• 2006

We evaluated the positional accuracy of the delivered beams to the target in a phantom by simulating the whole process of the radiation treatments Including CT scanning, planning and beam exposures with MLCs. For this purpose, a phantom was made to calibrate the alignment between the CT and the attached laser system. A new, convenient method was also devised to align the setup lasers in the treatment room. Film was used for the Identification of the delivered beam and analyzed with a homemade computer program. The positional differences between the target and the beam centers varied with the couch rotations. The accelerator we used showed a maximum discrepancy of 2.0 mm at the table angle of $295^{\circ}$. The same measurements based on the new isocenter from the Winston-Lutz test resulted in the maximum of 1.35 mm for all rotation angles. The evaluation of the differences between the target and the beam centers is useful for the treatment planning.