• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.323-332
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• 1996

Purpose : The wedge filter is the most commonly used beam modifying device during radiation therapy Recently dynamic wedge technique is available through the computer controlled asymmetric collimator, independent jaw. But dosimetric characteristics of dynamic wedge technique is not well known. Therefore we evaluate dosimetric characteristics of dynamic wedge compared to conventional fixed wedge. Materials and Methods : We evaluated dosimetric characteristics of dynamic wedge and fixed wedge by ion chamber, film dosimetry and TLD in phantoms such as water, polystyrene and average breast phantom. Six MV x-ray was used in $15{\times}15cm$ field with 15,30 and 45 degree wedge of dynamic/liked wedge system, Dosimeric characteristics are interpreted by Wellhofer Dosimetrie system WP700/WP700i and contralateral breast dose (CBD) with tangential technique was confirmed by TLD. Results : 1) Percent depth dose through the dynamic wedge technique in tissue equivalent phantom was similar to open field irradiation and there was no beam hardening effect compared to fixed wedge technique. 2) Isodose line composing wedge angle of dynamic wedge is more straight than hard wedge. And dynamic wedge technique was able to make any wedge angle on any depth and field size. 3) The contralateral breast dose in primary breast irradiation was reduced by dynamic wedge technique compared to fixed wedge. When the dynamic wedge technique was applied, the scatter dose was similar to that of open field irradiation. Conclusion : The dynamic wedge technique was superior to fixed wedge technique in dosimetric characteristics and may be more useful in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 1997

The present work is determine to the dose distribution reduced by the insertion of a shielded into a vaginal cylinder around a $\^$60/CO source in brachytherapy, and to the source calibration. It was investigated by measuring the relative dose around a 2.5cm diameter shielded vaginal cylinder in a polystyrene phantom by use of a ionization chamber. Measurements were made with the cylinder unshielded and 0.55cm thick 90$^{\circ}C$ lead shields inserted. Also, the dose distribution compared measurement value with calculation value according to the device manufacturer and the multiple-divided dose tables. A reduction in dose was observed on the unshielded side of the cylinder which increased with distance from the source and it does 4.4％ within 1cm from the surface of the cylinder. On the shielded side of the cylinder, the dose at the surface is reduced to about 20.4％ of its value without the shield. The effective attenuation factor entered for the 90$^{\circ}C$ lead shielded cylinder was average 0.2 in a $\^$60/CO moving source. In comparision with the dose calculation mathods, the multiple-divided dose tables are difference less than ${\pm}$4.1％ with measured data in a $\^$60/Co source.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1997

The using of compensator is required to adjust the irregular dose distribution due to irregular thickness of the body in Total Body Irradiation. Aluminuim, copper or lead is generally used as compensator. In our study, we would like to introduce a result of the attenuation and compensation effect of radiation use compensator made by duralumin and its clinical use. The thickness of compensator was calculated by the attenustion of radiation, which was measured by polystyrene phantom and ionization chamber(farmer). The compensation effect of radiation was measured by diode detector. All of conditions were set as in real treatment, and the distanc from source to detector was 446 cm. We also made fixation of device to easily attach the compensator to LINAC. Beam spoiler was menufactured and placed on the patient to irradiate sufficient dose to the skin. diode detector were placed on head, neck, chest, umbilicus. pelvis and knee with each their entranced exit points, and datas of dose distribution were evaluated and compared in each points for eleven patients(Feb. 96-Feb. 97). The attenuation rate of irradiation by duralumin compensator was measured as $1.4\%$ in 2mm thickness. The mean attenuation rate was $1.3\%$ per 2mm as increasing the thickness gradually to 50 mm. By using duralunim compensator, dose distribution in each points of body was measured with ${\pm}2.8\%$ by diode detectior. We could easily calculate the thickness of compensator by measuring the attenuation rate of radiation, remarkably reduce the irragularity of dose distribution duo to the thickness of body and magnify the effect of radiation therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2002

Purpose : In radiotherapy, various materials are used to located in treatment field unintentionally. It increases the dose delivered to the skin by interactions of the X-ray within the materials and occurs unwanted skin reaction.(due to the dose build-up effect) This aim of the this study is to measure the increase in skin dose when 13 materials are located in treatment field. Methods : Photon beam measurements were made using an plane-parallel chamber (Markus, PTW-Freiburg) in a polystyrene phantom. skin dose were measured using various overlaying 13 materials. a fixed geometry of a $10{\times}10cm$ field, a SSD=100cm and photon energy 4MV on Varian CLINAC 600C accelerator were used for all measurements. Results : There is an increase in skin dose for all materials($16.4{\sim}160.1\%$). As a percentage of maximum dose, the lowest skin dose were measured for the underwear with silk($43.2\%$) and the highest were measured for the 100m1 fluid-bag($96.6\%$) Conclusion : There is a significant increase in skin dose with 13 materials in the treatment field. a significant increase in skin dose can occur which could produce unwanted skin reaction. considerations for placement of 13 materials to be outside the treatment field whenever possible should be used to keep skin dose to a minimum level.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 1986

In electron therapy, lead cutout or low-melting alloy block is used for shaping the field. Material for shaping electron field affects the output factor as wet 1 as the collimation system. The authors measured the output factors of electron beams for shaped fields from Clinac-18 using ionization chamber of Farmer type in polystyrene phantom. They analyzed the parameters that affect the output factors. The output factors of electron beams depend on the incident energy, collimation system and size of shaped field. For shaped field the variation of output factor for the field size (A/P) has appearence of a smooth curve for all energy and all applicator collimator combination. The output factors for open field deviate from the curves for shaped fields. An output factor for a given field can be calculated by equivalent field method such as A/P method, if a combination of applicator and collimator is fixed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.869-875
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to derive a formula for calculating the effective energy of an X-ray beam generated by a CT simulator. Under 90, 120, and 140 kVp X-ray beams, the CT number calibration insert part of the AAPM CT performance phantom was scanned 5 times with a CT simulator. The CT numbers of polyethylene, polystyrene, water, nylon, polycarbonate, and acrylic were measured for each CT slice image. The average value of CT number measured under a single tube voltage and the linear attenuation coefficients corresponding to each photon energy calculated from the data of the National Institute of Standards and Technology were linearly fitted. Among the obtained correlation coefficients, the photon energy having the maximum value was determined as the effective energy. In this way, the effective energy of the X-ray beam generated at each tube voltage was determined. By linearly fitting the determined effective energies(y) and tube voltages(x), y=0.33026x+30.80263 as an effective energy calculation formula was induced.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 1995

Purpose : To evaluate the effect on surface dose due to Aquaplast used for immobilizing the patients with head and neck cancers in photon beam radiotherapy Materials and Methods: To assess surface and buildup region dose for 6MV X-ray from linear accelerator(Siemens Mevatron 6740), we measured percent ionization value with the Markus chamber model 30-329 manufactured by PTW Frieburg and Capintec electrometer, model WK92. For measurement of surface ionization value, the chamber was embedded in $25{\times}25{\times}3cm^3$ acrylic phantom and set on $25{\times}25{\times}5cm^3$ polystyrene phantom to allow adequate scattering. The measurements of percent depth ionization were made by placing the polystyrene layers of appropriate thickness over the chamber. The measurements were taken at 100cm SSD for $5{\times}5cm^2$, $10{\times}10cm^2$ and $15{\times}15cm^2$ field sizes, respectively. Placing the layer of Aquaplast over the chamber, the same procedures were repeated. We evaluated two types of Aquaplast: 1.6mm layer of original Aquaplast(manufactured by WFR Aquaplast Corp.) and transformed Aquaplast similar to moulded one for immobilizing the patients practically. We also measured surface ionization values with blocking tray in presence or absence of transformed Aquaplast. In calculating percent depth dose, we used the formula suggested by Gerbi and Khan to correct overresponse of the Markus chamber. Results : The surface doses for open fields of $5{\times}5cm^2$, $10{\times}10cm^2$, and $15{\times}15cm^2$ were $79\%$, $13.6\%$, and $18.7\%$, respectively. The original Aquaplast increased the surface doses upto $38.4\%$, $43.6\%$, and $47.4\%$, respectively. For transformed Aquaplast, they were $31.2\%$, $36.1\%$, and $40.5\%$, respectively. There were little differences in percent depth dose values beyond the depth of Dmax. Increasing field size, the blocking tray caused increase of the surface dose by $0.2\%$, $1.7\%$, $3.0\%$ without Aquaplast, $0.2\%$, $1.9\%$, $3.7\%$ with transformed Aquaplast, respectively. Conclusion: The original and transformed Aquaplast increased the surface dose moderately. The percent depth doses beyond Dmax, however, were not affected by Aquaplast. In conclusion, although the use of Aquaplast in practice may cause some increase of skin and buildup region dose, reductioin of skin-sparing effect will not be so significant clinically.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-141
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• 1991

A comprehensive set of dosimetric measurements has been made on the Varian Clinac 1800 15 MV photon beam. Beam quality, percentage depth dose, dose in the build up region, output, symmetry and flatness, transmission through iead (Cerrobend), tray attenuation, isodose curves for the open and wedged fields were measured using 3 dimensional water phantom dosimetry system (including film densitometer system) and polystyrene phantoms. These dosimetric measurements sufficiently characterized the beam to permit clinical use. The depth dose characteristics of photon beam is $d_{max}$ of 3.0 cm and percentage depth dose of $76.8\%$ at 10 cm,100 cm source-surface distance, field size of $10\times10\;cm^2$ for 15 MV X-ray beam. The Output factors ranged 0.927 for $4\times4\;cm^2$ field to 1,087 for $35\times35\;cm^2$ field. The build-up level of maximum dose was at 3.0 cm and surface dose was approximately $15.5\%$ for a field size $10\times10\;cm^2$ The stability of output is $within\pm1\%$ and flatness and symmetry are $within\pm3\%$. The half value thickness (HVL) of lead is 13 mm, which corresponds to an attenuation coefficient of $0.053\;mm^{-1}$. These figures compare facorably with the manufacturesr`s specifications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1995

Purpose : This study was performed to measure dose alteration at the air-tissue interface resulting from rebuild-up to the loss of charged particle equilibrium in the tissues around the air-tissue interfaces. Materials and Methods : The 6 and 10-MV photon beam in dual energy linear accelerator were used to measure the surface dose at the air-tissue interface The polystyrene phantom sized $25{\times}25{\times}5\;cm^3$ and a water phantom sized $29{\times}29{\times}48\;cm^3$ which incorporates a parallel-plate ionization chamber in the distal side of air gap were used in this study. The treatment field sizes were $5{\times}5\;cm^2,\;10{\times}10\;cm^2\;and\;20{\times}20\;cm^2$. Air cavity thickness was variable from 10 mm to 50 mm. The observed-expected ratio (OER) was defined as the ratio of dose measured at the distal junction that is air-tissue interface to the dose measured at the same point in a homogeneous phantom. Results : In this experiment, the result of OER was close or slightly over than 1.0 for the large field size but much less (about 0.565) than 1.0 for the small field size in both photon energy. The factors to affect the dose distribution at the air-tissue interface were the field size, the thickness of air cavity. and the photon energy. Conclusion : Thus, the radiation oncologist should take into account dose reduction at the air-tissue interface when planning the head and neck cancer especially pharynx and laryngeal lesions, because the dose can be less nearly $29{\%}$ than predicted value.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 1998

Purpose: Tissue inhomogeneity such as lung affects tumor dose as well as transmission dose in new concept of on-line dosimetry which estimates tumor dose from transmission dose using the new algorithm. This study was carried out to confirm accuracy of correction by tissue density in tumor dose estimation utilizing transmission dose. Methods: Cork phantom (CP, density $0.202\;gm/cm^3$) having similar density with lung parenchyme and polystyrene phantom (PP, density $1.040\;gm/cm^3$) having similar density with soft tissue were used. Dose measurement was carried out under condition simulating human chest. On simulating AP-PA irradiation, PPs with 3 cm thickness were placed above and below CP, which had thickness of 5, 10, and 20 cm. On simulating lateral irradiation, 6 cm thickness of PP was placed between two 10 cm thickness CPs additional 3 cm thick PP was placed to both lateral sides. 4, 6, and 10 MV x-ray were used. Field size was in the range of $3{\times}3$ cm through $20{\times}20$ cm, and phantom-chamber distance (PCD) was 10 to 50 cm. Above result was compared with another sets of data with equivalent thickness of PP which was corrected by density. Result: When transmission dose of PP was compared with equivalent thickness of CP which was corrected with density, the average error was 0.18 (${\pm}0.27$) % for 4 MV, 0.10 (${\pm}0.43$) % for 6 MV, and 0.33 (${\pm}0.30$) % for 10 MV with CP having thickness of 5 cm. When CP was 10 cm thick, the error was 0.23 (${\pm}0.73$) %, 0.05 (${\pm}0.57$) %, and 0.04 (${\pm}0.40$) %, while for 20 cm, error was 0.55 (${\pm}0.36$) %, 0.34 (${\pm}0.27$) %, and 0.34 (${\pm}0.18$) % for corresponding energy. With lateral irradiation model, difference was 1.15 (${\pm}1.86$) %, 0.90 (${\pm}1.43$) %, and 0.86 (${\pm}1.01$) % for corresponding energy. Relatively large difference was found in case of PCD having value of 10 cm. Omitting PCD with 10 cm, the difference was reduced to 0.47 (${\pm}$1.17) %, 0.42 (${\pm}$0.96) %, and 0.55 (${\pm}$0.77) % for corresponding energy. Conclusion When tissue inhomogeneity such as lung is in tract of x-ray beam, tumor dose could be calculated from transmission dose after correction utilizing tissue density.