• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.347-350
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• 1998

Purpose : This study is to see how much proportion of the patients receiving radiation therapy drop out during radiation therapy and to analyze the reason for the incomplete treatment. Materials and Methods : The base population of this study was 1,100 patients with registration numbers 901 through 2,000 at Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Authors investigated the incidence of incomplete radiation therapy, which was defined as less than 95$\%$ of initially planned radiation dose, and the reasons for incomplete radiation therapy. Results : One hundred and twenty eight patients (12$\%$) did not complete the planned radiation therapy. The performance status of the incompletely treated patients was generally Poorer than that of the base population, and the aim of radiation therapy was more commonly palliative. The most common reason for not completing the planned treatment was the patients' refusal of further radiation therapy because of the distrust of radiation therapy and/or the poor economic status. Conclusion : Careful case selection for radiation therapy with consideration of the socioeconomic status of the patients in addition to the clinical indication would be necessary for the reduction of incomplete treatment, especially in the palliative setting.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 1987

It has been evident since 1972 that computed tomography(CT) can play an important role in treatment and managment of the cancer patients as four steps; diagnosis, satging Treatment and follow-up. In this paper, we intended to investigate the availability of CT scan and treatment planning computer in 700 cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy at the division of radiation therapy, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical College between Mar. 1983 and Dec. 1985. The result were as follow; 1. Of 700 irradiated cancer patients, 342 patients ($48.9\%$) were performed CT scan prior to radiation therapy. 2. The distribution of lesions in 342 patients having CT scans was like this; CNS (83 of 104 patients, $79.8\%$), abdomen (44 of 76 patients, $57.9\%$), pelvis (100 of 188 patients, $53.2\%$) etc. in order. 3. The treatment planning computer were used in 280 cancer patients ($40\%$). 4. Of the 280 cancer patients using treatment planning computer, 167 patients ($59.6\%$) applied diagnostic CT scan and remaining 113 patients ($40.4\%$) were made body contour to be used for radiation therapy planning by the treatment planning computer. Authors also made some magnification devices used for small multiformat CT images to magnify into life size, consisting of overhead projector (3M) I.V. stand and mirror. These enabled us to make less errors in tracing the small-sized CT images during input of the anatomical data into the treatment planning computer.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.259-279
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• 2009

Radioiodine ablation therapy has been considered to be a standard treatment for patient with differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy. Patients may need to be hospitalized to reduce radiation exposure of other people and relatives from radioactive patients receiving radioiodine therapy. Medical staffs, nursing staffs and technologists sometimes hesitate to contact patients in radioiodine therapy ward. The purpose of this paper is to introduce radiation dosimetry, estimate radiation dose from patients and emphasize the safety of radiation exposure from patients treated with high dose radioiodine in therapy ward. The major component of radiation dose from patient is external exposure. However external radiation dose from these patients treated with typical therapeutic dose of 4 to 8 GBq have a very low risk of cancer induction compared with other various risks occurring in daily life. The typical annual radiation dose without shielding received by patient is estimated to be 5 to 10 mSv, which is comparable with 100 to 200 times effective dose received by chest PA examination. Therefore, when we should keep in mind the general principle of radiation protection, the risks of radiation exposure from patients are low and the medical personnel are considered to be safe from radiation exposure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.31.1-31.5
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• 2015

Background: Pathologic fractures are caused by diseases that lead to weakness of the bone structure. This process sometimes occurs owing to bony change after radiation therapy. Treatment of pathologic fractures may be difficult because of previous radiation therapy. Methods: In this study, we analyzed clinical and radiographic data and progress of five patients with mandibular pathological fractures who had received postoperative radiation therapy following cancer surgery. Result: Patients received an average radiation dose of 59.2 (SD, 7.2) Gy. Four of five patients exhibited bone union regardless of whether open reduction and internal fixation (OR/IF) was performed. Patients have the potential to heal after postoperative radiation therapy. Treatment of a pathologic fracture following postoperative radiation therapy, such as traditional treatment for other types of fractures, may be performed using OR/IF or CR. OR/IF may be selected in cases of significant bone deviation, small remaining bone volume, or occlusive change. Conclusion: Patients have the potential to heal after postoperative radiation therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 1984

The record of radiation therapy cases during a five year period at the University of Michigan Hospitals has been analyzed. Of a total of 73 adenocarcinoma of prostate, the majority belonged to Stage B and C which represented 49 and 20 cases, respectively. The mortality rate after irradiation was clearly related to the tumor stage. Local irradiation resulted in $88\%$ of the local control of well·differentiated adenocarcinomas. Stage C cases had $50\%$ mortality, whereas that of Stage B patients was $14\%$. Results of this study are in general agreement with previous data in terms of the local disease control after irradiation and provide a basis for conservative radiotherapy regimen as an approach in the treatment of localized prostatic carcinomas.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.99-110
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• 2020

With hope and concern, the first Korean proton therapy facility was introduced to the National Cancer Center (NCC) in 2007. It added a new chapter to the history of Korean radiation therapy. There have been challenging clinical trials using proton beam therapy, which has seen many impressive results in cancer treatment. Compared to the rapidly increasing number of proton therapy facilities in the world, only one more proton therapy center has been added since 2007 in Korea. The Samsung Medical Center installed a proton therapy facility in 2015. Most radiation oncology practitioners would agree that the physical properties of the proton beam provide a clear advantage in radiation treatment. But the expensive cost of proton therapy facilities is still one of the main reasons that hospitals are reluctant to introduce them in Korea. I herein introduce the history of proton therapy and the cutting edge technology used in proton therapy. In addition, I will cover the role of a medical physicist in proton therapy and the future prospects of proton therapy, based on personal experience in participating in proton therapy programs from the beginning at the NCC.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.92-94
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• 1992

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1989

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1996

The preservation of the voice-producing mechanism is an important feature in the management of laryngeal cancer by radiotherapy. But, radiation therapy has certain side effects such as mucositis, tissue edema, necrosis and fibrosis which could effect on normal voice production. Several subjective studies that used questionnaires and auditory perceptual judgements of voice have been interpreted to mean that radiation results in a normal or near-normal voice. Objective evidence of the status of vocal function after radiation treatment, however, is still lacking. We analyzed the changes that occur in voice parameters in a group of patients undergoing radiation therapy, in order to determine the effect of radiation on voice quality. In this study acoustic, aerodynamic measures of vocal function were used to determine the characteristics of voice production. We found that voice parameters in early glottic cancer changed meaningfully comparing to normal larynx with or without radiation and radiation therapy has an little effect on normal larynx.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.413-422
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• 2019

Heavy ion particle, represented carbon ion, radiotherapy is currently most advanced radiation therapy technique. Conventional radiation therapy has made remarkable changes over a relatively short period of time and leading various developments such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, 4D radiation therapy, image guided radiation therapy, and high precisional therapy. However, the biological and physical superiority of particle radiation, represented by Bragg peak, can give the maximum dose to tumor and minimal dose to surrounding normal tissues in the treatment of cancers in various areas surrounded by radiation-sensitive normal tissues. However, despite these advantages, there are some limitations and factors to consider. First, there is not enough evidence, such as large-scale randomized, prospective phase III trials, for the clinical application. Secondly, additional studies are needed to establish a very limited number of treatment facilities, uncertainty about the demand for heavy particle treatment, parallel with convetional radiotherapy or indications. In addition, Bragg peak of the heavy particles can greatly reduce the dose to the normal tissues front and behind the tumor compared to the photon or protons. High precision and accuracy are needed for treatment planning and treatment, especially for lungs or livers with large respiratory movements. Currently, the introduction of the heavy particle therapy device is in progress, and therefore, it is expected that more research will be active.