• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.497-504
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of electronic portal imaging device through objective compare of the images acquired using an EPID and a conventional port film Materials and Methods : From Apr. to Oct. 1997, a total of 150 sets of images from 20 patients who received radiation therapy in the pelvis area were evaluated in the Inha University Hospital and Severance Hospital. A dual image recording technique was devised to obtain both electronic portal images and port film images simultaneously with one treatment course. We did not perform double exposure five to ten images were acquired from each patient. All images were acquired from posteroanterior (PA) view except images from two patients. A dose rate of 100-300 Mu/min and a 10-MV X-ray beam were used and 2-10 MUs were required to produce a verification image during treatment. Kodak diagnostic film with metal/film imaging cassette which was located on the top of the EPID detector was used for the port film. The source to detector distance was 140 cm. Eight anatomical landmarks (pelvic brim, sacrum, acetabulum. iliopectineal line, symphysis, ischium, obturator foramen, sacroiliac joint) were assessed. Four radiation oncologist joined to evaluate each image. The individual landmarks in the port film or in the EPID were rated - very clear (1), clear (2), visible (3), not clear (4), not visible (5). Results : Using an video camera based EPID system. there was no difference of image quality between no enhanced EPID images and port film images. However, when we provided some change with window level for the portal image, the visibility of the sacrum and obturator foramen was improved in the portal images than in the port film images. All anatomical landmarks were more visible in the portal images than in the port film when we applied the CLAHE mode enhancement. The images acquired using an matrix ion chamber type EPID were also improved image qualify after window level adjustment. Conclusion : The quality of image acquired using an electronic portal imaging device was comparable to that of the port film. When we used the enhance mode or window level adjustment. the image quality of the EPID was superior to that of the port film. EPID may replace the port film.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 2013

Purpose: Replacing the film which used to be used for checking the set-up of the patient and dosimetry during radiation therapy, more and more EPID equipped devices are in use at present. Accordingly, this article tried to evaluated the accuracy of the position check-up and the usefulness of dosimetry during the use of an electronic portal imaging device. Materials and Methods: On 50 materials acquired with the search of Korea Society Radiotherapeutic Technology, The Korean Society for Radiation Oncology, and Pubmed using "EPID", "Portal dosimetry", "Portal image", "Dose verification", "Quality control", "Cine mode", "Quality - assurance", and "In vivo dosimetry" as indexes, the usefulness of EPID was analyzed by classifying them as history of EPID and dosimetry, set-up verification and characteristics of EPID. Results: EPID is developed from the first generation of Liquid-filled ionization chamber, through the second generation of Camera-based fluoroscopy, and to the third generation of Amorphous-silicon EPID imaging modes can be divided into EPID mode, Cine mode and Integrated mode. When evaluating absolute dose accuracy of films and EPID, it was found that EPID showed within 1% and EDR2 film showed within 3% errors. It was confirmed that EPID is better in error measurement accuracy than film. When gamma analyzing the dose distribution of the base exposure plane which was calculated from therapy planning system, and planes calculated by EDR2 film and EPID, both film and EPID showed less than 2% of pixels which exceeded 1 at gamma values (r%>1) with in the thresholds such as 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm respectively. For the time needed for full course QA in IMRT to compare loads, EDR2 film recorded approximately 110 minutes, and EPID recorded approximately 55 minutes. Conclusion: EPID could easily replace conventional complicated and troublesome film and ionization chamber which used to be used for dosimetry and set-up verification, and it was proved to be very efficient and accurate dosimetry device in quality assurance of IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy). As cine mode imaging using EPID allows locating tumors in real-time without additional dose in lung and liver which are mobile according to movements of diaphragm and in rectal cancer patients who have unstable position, it may help to implement the most optimal radiotherapy for patients.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2000.06e
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• pp.106-109
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• 2000

The diode characteristics for therapy radiation sensor have been studied by irradiating therapy radiation from the MM22 microtron accelerator. Signal processing has been performed in the pulse mode which can process the signal fast. We have designed integrator, peak detector and synchronization circuit to detect diode signal in the pulse mode for implementation of portal image. We also read the diode signal by A/D board and displayed the peak value with LabView program. Because the quality of portal image obtained by film in the case of therapy radiation is much worse than that of diagnostic film, Digital radiography system by rectifier diode detector was suggested for portal Image.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 1995

Because of the high energy of the treatment beam, contrast of portal films is very poor. Many image processing techniques have been applied to the portal images but a significant drawback is the loss of definition on the edges of the treatment field. Analysis of this problem shows that it may be remedied by separating the treatment field from the background prior to enhancement and uslng only the pixels within the field boundary in the enhancement procedure. A new edge extraction algorithm for accurate extraction of the radiation field boundary from portal Images has been developed for contrast enhancement of portal images. In this paper, portal image segmentation algorithm based on Sobel filtration, labelling processes and morphological thinning has been presented. This algorithm could automatically search the optimal threshold value which is sensitive to the variation of the type and quality of portal images.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.126-133
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2003

It is crucial to minimize setup errors of a cancer treatment machine using a high energy and to perform precise radiation therapy. Usually, port film has been used for verifying errors. The Korea Cancer Center Hospital (KCCH) has manufactured digital electronic portal imaging device (EPID) system to verify treatment machine errors as a Quality Assurance (Q.A) tool. This EPID was consisted of a metal/fluorescent screen, 45$^{\circ}$ mirror, a camera and an image grabber and could display the portal image with near real time KIRAMS has also made the acrylic phantom that has lead line of 1mm width for ligh/radiation field congruence verification and reference points phantom for using as an isocenter on portal image. We acquired portal images of 10$\times$10cm field size with this phantom by EPID and portal film rotating treatment head by 0.3$^{\circ}$, 0.6$^{\circ}$ and 0.9$^{\circ}$. To check field size, we acquired portal images with 18$\times$18cm, 19$\times$19cm and 20$\times$20cm field size with collimator angle 0$^{\circ}$ and 0.5$^{\circ}$ individually. We have performed Flatness comparison by displaying the line intensity from EPID and film images. The 0.6$^{\circ}$ shift of collimator angle was easily observed by edge detection of irradiated field size on EPID image. To the extent of one pixel (0.76mm) difference could be detected. We also have measured field size by finding optimal threshold value, finding isocenter, finding field edge and gauging distance between isocenter and edge. This EPID system could be used as a Q.A tool for checking field size, light/radiation congruence and flatness with a developed video based EPID.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2012

Purpose: To develop a geometrical quality control real-time analysis program using an electronic portal imaging to replace film evaluation method. Materials and Methods: A geometrical quality control item was established with the Eclipse treatment planning system (Version 8.1, Varian, USA) after the Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID) took care of the problems occurring from the fixed substructure of the linear accelerator (CL-iX, Varian, USA). Electronic portal image (single exposure before plan) was created at the treatment room's 4DTC (Version 10.2, Varian, USA) and a beam was irradiated in accordance with each item. The gaining the entire electronic portal imaging at the Off-line review and was evaluated by a self-developed geometrical quality control real-time analysis program. As for evaluation methods, the intra-fraction error was analyzed by executing 5 times in a row under identical conditions and procedures on the same day, and in order to confirm the infer-fraction error, it was executed for 10 days under identical conditions of all procedures and was compared with the film evaluation method using an Iso-align$^{TM}$ quality control device. Measurement and analysis time was measured by sorting the time into from the device setup to data achievement and the time amount after the time until the completion of analysis and the convenience of the users and execution processes were compared. Results: The intra-fraction error values for each average 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.2 mm at light-radiation field coincidence, collimator rotation axis, couch rotation axis and gantry rotation axis. By checking the infer-fraction error through 10 days of continuous quality control, the error values obtained were average 1.7, 1.4, 0.7, 1.1 mm for each item. Also, the measurement times were average 36 minutes, 15 minutes for the film evaluation method and electronic portal imaging system, and the analysis times were average 30 minutes, 22 minutes. Conclusion: When conducting a geometrical quality control using an electronic portal imaging, it was found that it is efficient as a quality control tool. It not only reduces costs through not using films, but also reduces the measurement and analysis time which enhances user convenience and can improve the execution process by leaving out film developing procedures etc. Also, images done with evaluation from the self-developed geometrical quality control real-time analysis program, data processing is capable which supports the storage of information.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.446-449
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• 2002

The video based electronic portal imaging device (EPID), which could display the portal image in near real time, was implemented to verify treatment position error in FSRT(Fractionated Stereotatic Radiation Therapy) instead of a portal film. Also, Developed FSRT system was composed of the stereotactic frame, frame mounting system and collimator cones. The verification of treatment position is very crucial in special therapies like FSRT. In general, the FSRT uses high dpse rate at small field size for treating small intracranial lesions. To evaluate quantitative positioning errors in FSRT, we used the first FSRT image as reference image and obtained the second FSRT image that was moved 2mm intentionally and detected intracranial contours after image processing. The generated 2mm error could be verified by overlapping only contours of two images. Through this study, the radiation treatment efficiency could be improved by performing precise radiation therapy with a developed video based EPID and FSRT.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2003

The application of more complex radiotherapy techniques using multileaf collimation (MLC), such as 3D conformal radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), has increased the significance of verifying leaf position and motion. Due to thier reliability and empirical robustness, quality assurance (QA) of MLC. However easy use and the ability to provide digital data of electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) have attracted attention to portal films as an alternatives to films for routine qualify assurance, despite concerns about their clinical feasibility, efficacy, and the cost to benefit ratio. In this study, we developed method for daily QA of MLC using electronic portal images (EPIs). EPID availability for routine QA was verified by comparing of the portal films, which were simultaneously obtained when radiation was delivered and known prescription input to MLC controller. Specially designed two-test patterns of dynamic MLC were applied for image acquisition. Quantitative off-line analysis using an edge detection algorithm enhanced the verification procedure as well as on-line qualitative visual assessment. In conclusion, the availability of EPI was enough for daily QA of MLC leaf position with the accuracy of portal films.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2003

In 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), many studies on reducing setup error have been conducted in order to focus the irradiation on the tumors while sparing normal tissues as much as possible. As one of these efforts, we developed an image enhancement and registration tool for simulators and portal images that analyze setup errors in a quantitative manner. For setup verification, we used simulator (films and EC-L films (Kodak, USA) as portal images. In addition, digital-captured images during simulation, and digitally-reconstructed radiographs (DRR) can be used as reference images in the software, which is coded using IDL5.4 (Research Systems Inc., USA). To improve the poor contrast of portal images, histogram-equalization, and adaptive histogram equalization, CLAHE (contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization) was implemented in the software. For image registration between simulator and portal images, contours drawn on the simulator image were transferred into the portal image, and then aligned onto the same anatomical structures on the portal image. In conclusion, applying CLAHE considerably improved the contrast of portal images and also enabled the analysis of setup errors in a quantitative manner.