• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2984-2996
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• 2023

A 100 kW thermal power pool-type light water reactor and Pu(Be) as a fast neutron source were used to determine the appropriate carrier for irradiating boron-containing samples with neutron beams. The tested materials (carriers) were subjected to neutron beams in the reactor's tangential channel. The geometrical arrangement of experimental facilities relative to the neutron beam trajectory, as well as the effect of sample thickness on the count rate, were investigated. The majority of the detectable charged particles emitted by the neutron beam's interaction with tested materials and the detector's detecting layer are protons (recoiled hydrogen) and particles generated in nuclear reactions (protons and alpha particles), respectively. Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) software was used to do theoretical calculations for the range of expected released particles in various materials, including human tissue. The results of measurement and calculation are in good agreement. According to experiments and theoretical calculations, the number of protons emitted by tissue-like materials may commit a dose comparable to that of boron capture reactions. Furthermore, the range of protons is significantly larger than that of alpha particles, which most probably changes dose distribution in healthy cells surrounding the tumor, which is undesirable in the BNCT approach.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.531-544
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• 2009

This paper is intended to provide key issues and current research outcomes on accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Accelerator-based neutron sources are efficient to provide epithermal neutron beams for BNCT; hence, much research, worldwide, has focused on the development of components crucial for its realization: neutron-producing targets and cooling equipment, beam-shaping assemblies, and treatment planning systems. Proton beams of 2.5 MeV incident on lithium target results in high yield of neutrons at relatively low energies. Cooling equipment based on submerged jet impingement and micro-channels provide for viable heat removal options. Insofar as beam-shaping assemblies are concerned, moderators containing fluorine or magnesium have the best performance in terms of neutron accumulation in the epithermal energy range during the slowing-down from the high energies. NCT_Plan and SERA systems, which are popular dose distribution analysis tools for BNCT, contain all the required features (i.e., image reconstruction, dose calculations, etc.). However, detailed studies of these systems remain to be done for accurate dose evaluation. Advanced research centered on accelerator-based BNCT is active in Korea as evidenced by the latest research at Hanyang University. There, a new target system and a beam-shaping assembly have been constructed. The performance of these components has been evaluated through comparisons of experimental measurements with simulations. In addition, a new patient-specific treatment planning system, BTPS, has been developed to calculate the deposited dose and radiation flux in human tissue. It is based on MCNPX, and it facilitates BNCT efficient planning based via a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2935-2940
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• 2023

A polystyrene phantom was developed following the guidance of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) for gamma knife (GK) quality assurance. Its performance was assessed by measuring the absorbed dose rate to water and dose distributions. The phantom was made of polystyrene, which has an electron density (1.0156) similar to that of water. The phantom included one outer phantom and four inner phantoms. Two inner phantoms held PTW T31010 and Exradin A16 ion chambers. One inner phantom held a film in the XY plane of the Leksell coordinate system, and another inner phantom held a film in the YZ or ZX planes. The absorbed dose rate to water and beam profiles of the machine-specific reference (msr) field, namely, the 16 mm collimator field of a GK Perfexion^TM or Icon^TM, were measured at seven GK sites. The measured results were compared to those of an IAEA-recommended solid water (SW) phantom. The radius of the polystyrene phantom was determined to be 7.88 cm by converting the electron density of the plastic, considering a water depth of 8 g/cm². The absorbed dose rates to water measured in both phantoms differed from the treatment planning program by less than 1.1%. Before msr correction, the PTW T31010 dose rates (PTW Freiberg GmbH, New York, NY, USA) in the polystyrene phantom were 0.70 (0.29)% higher on average than those in the SW phantom. The Exradin A16 (Standard Imaging, Middleton, WI, USA) dose rates were 0.76 (0.32)% higher in the polystyrene phantom. After msr correction factors were applied, there were no statistically significant differences in the A16 dose rates measured in the two phantoms; however, the T31010 dose rates were 0.72 (0.29)% higher in the polystyrene phantom. When the full widths at half maximum and penumbras of the msr field were compared, no significant differences between the two phantoms were observed, except for the penumbra in the Y-axis. However, the difference in the penumbra was smaller than variations among different sites. A polystyrene phantom developed for gamma knife dosimetry showed dosimetric performance comparable to that of a commercial SW phantom. In addition to its cost effectiveness, the polystyrene phantom removes air space around the detector. Additional simulations of the msr correction factors of the polystyrene phantom should be performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2021

Proton therapy using the Bragg peak is one of the radiation therapies and can deliver its maximum energy to the tumor with giving least energy for normal tissue. A cross-sectional image of the human body taken with the computed tomography (CT) has been used for radiation therapy planning. The HU values change according to the tube voltage, which lead to the change in the boundary and thickness of the anatomical structure on the CT image. This study examined the changes in the Bragg peak of the brain region according to the thickness variation in the head phantom composed of several materials using the Geant4. In the phantom composed of a single material, the Bragg peak according to the type of media and the incident energy of the proton beams were calculated, and the reliability of Geant4 code was verified by the Bragg peak. The variation of the peak in the brain region was examined when each thickness of the head phantom was changed. When the thickness of the soft tissue was changed, there was no change in the peak position, and for the skin the change in the peak was small. The change of the peak position was mainly changed when the bone thickness. In particular, when the bone was changed only or the bone was changed together with other tissues, the amount of change in the peak position was the same. It is considered that measurement of the accurate bone thickness in CT images is one of the key factors in depth-dose distribution of the radiation therapy planning.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 2002

Two approximate calculation models for a cosmic radiation shielding in satellite are compared with detailed 3-dimensional calculation results. One is a sectoring method and the other is a chord-length distribution method. Shielding caltulation is performed for KITSAT-1 under the assumed environment at SAA (South Atlantic Anomaly) location with AP-8 radiation spectrum model. When both approximate models are applied, calculation error is expected compared with 3-D detailed geometry calculation because of straight knock-on assumption neglecting the deflection of incident proton. However, both approximate models showed good agreements with 3-dimensional detailed Monte Carlo calculation in two dose detector locations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Proton therapy is known for its superior treatment method due to Bragg peak. To enhance the therapeutic effects of protons, research has been conducted on distributing gold nanoparticles within tumors to increase the absorbed dose. While previous studies focused on handling gold nanoparticles at micrometer and nonometer scale, this study proposes a method to computationally estimate the effect of gold nanoparticles at the millimeter scale. The Geant4 toolkit was applied to computational modeling. Assuming a uniform distribution of water, similar to the human body, and gold nanoparticles, the concentration of gold nanoparticles was adjusted using density ratios. When the density ratio was 5%, the gain in absorbed energy due to gold nanoparticles was nearly twice that of the pure water phantom at the Bragg peak. As the density ratio increased, the gain in absorbed energy linearly increased. When gold nanoparticles were distributed in only one voxel at the Bragg peak, the energy of the protons affected only the neighboring voxels. However, in cases where gold nanoparticles were distributed over a wide area, the volume showing 95% of the maximum absorbed energy (9.46 keV) for the pure water phantom (9.95 keV) exhibited an improvement in absorbed energy over a region 16 times larger, and this region increased as the density ratio increased. Further research is needed to quantify the relationship between the density ratio of gold nanoparticles and the relative biological effect (RBE) in the millimeter scale.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2006

Based on the data of cervical cancer patients who were treated by the radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy at the radiation oncology department of National Cancer Center from January 2002 to February 2003, we have studied the method recommended by ICRU 38 to maximize the prescription dose to the planing target volume (PTV) with minimizing the dose to surrounding normal organs. Clinical stage of the patients are 1 patient for stage IB, 3 patients for IIA, 19 patients for IIB, 3 patients for IIIA, 3 patients for IIIB and 1 patient for IV. All patients took the MRI before treatment and the maximum size of the gross tumor volume were under 4cm for 17 patients and from 4 cm to 6 cm for 12 patients and above 6 cm for 1 patient. The results show that while the irradiated volume can be reduced with optimized dose distribution using PTV treatment planning (p<0.0001) when the remained tumor size is small, the surrounding normal organs will receive unnecessarily large dose when the irradiated tumor volume is relatively large. This is because there is some limitation in controling the intensity of radiation in Fletcher Williamson Applicator. To overcome the limit of applicator and to achieve the optimal dose distribution, we have virtually applied 4 needles with Fletcher Williamson Applicator for 10 patients who have relatively large tumor and studied the change in dose distribution before and after application. The results show that this new virtual treatment plan reduces the volume covered by 100 % isodose (p=0.0608, p=0.0607) and reduces the dose of normal organs (p=0.0162, p=0.008). This evidence suggest that this method is superior than the currently used method such as PTV treatment and ICRU treatment.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.335-344
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• 1997

The absorption, distribution and excretion of $^{14}C$ labeled YH1885 {5,6-Dimethyl-2(4-fluorophenylamino)-4-(1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)pyrimidine hydroc hloride), a new proton pumpinhibitor, were investigated in rats after a single administration of $^{14}C$-YH1885. 1. After intravenous administration of 5mg/kg, the blood level of radioactivity declined in a biphasic fashion with the mean terminal elimination half-life of 12.4hr. 2. After oral administration of 20mg/kg, the maximum blood level of radioactirity was reached at 4.0hr in female rats. The blood level of radioactivity-time profiles in male and female rats were similar, and the absorptionof $^{14}C$-YH1885 was not affected by food. 3. Appproximately 89% and 1% of radioactivity of the total dose were excreted in feces and urine, respectively. 4. Biliary excretion of radioactivity was 47.9% of the dose. Enterohepatic circulation of radioactivity was 49.6%. 5. Radioactivity was excreted maily into feces via bile. 6. The concentration of radioactivity in most tissues reached the peak level at 4.0hr after dosing, and then declined. Autoradiograms of male rats showed that the radioactivity levlels in the fat, harder's gland, liver and G-Itract were higher than those in the other tissues and the elimination of radioactivity from fat and liver was slow. 7. Autoradiograms of a pregnant rat showed that radioactivity was transferred to mammary gland, placenta and fetus. The radioactivity level in the mammary gland was higher than that in the blood.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.249-260
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• 2007

Purpose: In order to enhance the quality of IMRT as employed in Korea, we developed a remote monitoring system. The feasibility of the system was evaluated by conducting a pilot study. Materials and Methods: The remote monitoring system consisted of a head and neck phantom and a user manual. The phantom contains a target and three OARs (organs at risk) that can be detected on CT images. TLD capsules were inserted at the center of the target and at the OARs. Two film slits for GafchromicEBT film were located on the axial and saggital planes. The user manual contained an IMRT planning guide and instructions for IMRT planning and the delivery process. After the manual and phantom were sent to four institutions, IMRT was planed and delivered. Predicted doses were compared with measured doses. Dose distribution along the two straight lines that intersected at the center of the axial film was measured and compared with the profiles predicted by the plan. Results: The measurements at the target agreed with the predicted dose within a 3% deviation. Doses at the OARs that represented the thyroid glands showed larger deviations (minimum 3.3% and maximum 19.8%). The deviation at OARs that represented the spiral cord was $0.7{\sim}1.4%$. The percentage of dose distributions that showed more than a 5% of deviation on the lines was $7{\sim}27%$ and $7{\sim}14%$ along the horizontal and vertical lines, respectively. Conculsion: Remote monitoring of IMRT using the developed system was feasible. With remote monitoring, the deviation at the target is expected to be small while the deviation at the OARs can be very large. Therefore, a method that is able to investigate the cause of a large deviation needs to be developed. In addition, a more clinically relevant measure for the two-dimensional dose comparison and pass/fail criteria need to be further developed.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.208-218
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• 2015

Recently, radiation therapy is used in the CT existing conventional two-dimensional radiation image, and set the size and location of the tumor in a manner that the image is going to change the treatment plan. After using the simulation using CT, radiation therapy it is four-dimensional or three-dimensional treatment made possible. and radiation therapy became the more effective ever before. High technology radiation therapy such as the treatment of SRS,IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, is a need to try contemplating the possibility to apply appropriate analysis and situation, so it has its own characteristics. and then it is believed that it is necessary to analyze and try it worries the proper applicability of the situation. The configuration of the various treatment that is applicable in many hospitals is necessary to try to determine how to practically apply the patients. Critical organs surrounding tumor give a small dose to avoid side effects and then the tumor has the therapeutic effect by providing a larger dose than before the radiation treatment.