• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Due to improved life spans, cancer incidence has increased with more aged patients presenting with cancer. Elderly cancer patients could have compromised organ function and/or comorbidities. Due to poor social support or lack of early diagnosis, treatment outcomes for elderly cancer patients are poor in general. However, with aggressive support during cancer management as well as careful selection, most elderly cancer patients can tolerate standard radiation therapy with good results based on published articles. Here, we reviewed existing articles regarding compliance and treatment results in elderly cancer patients based on tumor site.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2895-2899
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• 2016

Background: Increasing breast cancer (BC) incidence rates have been reported from India; causal factors for this increased incidence are not understood and diagnosis is mostly in advanced stages. Trivandrum exhibits the highest BC incidence rates in India. This study aimed to estimate trends in incidence by age from 2005-2014, to predict rates through 2020 and to assess the stage at diagnosis of BC in Trivandrum. Materials and Methods: BC cases were obtained from the Population Based Cancer Registry, Trivandrum. Distribution of stage at diagnosis and incidence rates of BC [Age-specific (ASpR), crude (CR) and age-standardized (ASR)] are described and employed with a joinpoint regression model to estimate average annual percent changes (AAPC) and a Bayesian model to estimate predictive rates. Results: BC accounts for 31% (2681/8737) of all female cancers in Trivandrum. Thirty-five percent (944/2681) are <50 years of age and only 9% present with stage I disease. Average age increased from 53 to 56.4 years (p=0.0001), CR (per $10^5$ women) increased from 39 (ASR: 35.2) to 55.4 (ASR: 43.4), AAPC for CR was 5.0 (p=0.001) and ASR was 3.1 (p=0.001). Rates increased from 50 years. Predicted ASpR is 174 in 50-59 years, 231 in > 60 years and overall CR is 80 (ASR: 57) for 2019-20. Conclusions: BC, mostly diagnosed in advanced stages, is rising rapidly in South India with large increases likely in the future; particularly among post-menopausal women. This increase might be due to aging and/or changes in lifestyle factors. Reasons for the increased incidence and late stage diagnosis need to be studied.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2014

A correlation between radiation therapy and cavernoma has been suspected since 1994. Since then, only a few cases of radio-induced cavernomas have been reported in the literature (85 patients). Most of them were children, and the most frequent original tumour had been medulloblastoma. The authors report a case of two cystic cavernous angiomas after radiation therapy for atypical meningioma in adult woman. This is the first case of cavernous angioma after radiotherapy for low grade meningioma. A 39-year-old, Latin american woman was operated on for a frontal atypical meningioma with intradiploic component and adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered (6000 cGy local brain irradiation, fractionated over 6 weeks). Follow-up MR imaging showed no recurrences of the tumour and no other lesions. Ten years later, at the age of 49, she consulted for progressive drug-resistant headache. MR imaging revealed two new well defined areas of different signal intensity at the surface of each frontal pole. Both lesions were surgically removed; the histopathological diagnosis was cavernous angioma. This is the first case of cavernous angioma after radiation therapy for atypical meningioma : it confirms the development of these lesions after standard radiation therapy also in patients previously affected by non-malignant tumours.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2022

Ingestion of foreign bodies (FBs) is a common phenomenon among young children. Plain radiography is the first step diagnostic modality to detect the radio-opaque FBs. And computed tomography has been recommended by several guidelines as useful modalities for diagnosing ingested FBs. However, there is a risk of radiation exposure, making it burdensome to use in asymptomatic patients. Ultrasound (US) is not a commonly used technique for diagnosing ingested foreign bodies. However, US can provide real-time imaging with good resolutions without radiation exposure in pediatric patients. Herein, we report two pediatric cases of metallic foreign body ingestion that were successfully diagnosed using US for localizing foreign bodies. This study indicates that US may be used as an alternative method for detecting the localization of metallic foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract without exposure of radiation, particularly in pediatric patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize and evaluate the clinical significance of volume changes of soft tissue sarcomas during radiation therapy (RT), prior to definitive surgical resection. Materials and Methods: Patients with extremity or pelvis soft tissue sarcomas treated at our institution from 2013 to 2016 with RT prior to resection were identified retrospectively. Tumor volumes were measured using cone-beam computed tomography obtained daily during RT. Linear regression evaluated the linearity of volume changes. Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and linear regression evaluated predictors of volume change. Logistic and Cox regression evaluated volume change as a predictor of resection margin status, histologic treatment response, and tumor recurrence. Results: Thirty-three patients were evaluated. Twenty-nine tumors were high grade. Prior to RT, median tumor volume was 189 mL (range, 7.2 to 4,885 mL). Sixteen tumors demonstrated significant linear volume changes during RT. Of these, 5 tumors increased and 11 decreased in volume. Myxoid liposarcoma (n = 5, 15%) predicted decreasing tumor volume (p = 0.0002). Sequential chemoradiation (n = 4, 12%) predicted increasing tumor volume (p = 0.008) and corresponded to longer times from diagnosis to RT (p = 0.01). Resection margins were positive in three cases. Five patients experienced local recurrence, and 7 experienced distant recurrence, at median 8.9 and 6.9 months post-resection, respectively. Volume changes did not predict resection margin status, local recurrence, or distant recurrence. Conclusion: Volume changes of pelvis and extremity soft tissue sarcomas followed linear trends during RT. Volume changes reflected histologic subtype and treatment characteristics but did not predict margin status or recurrence after resection.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.119-142
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• 2013

It is not easy to regulate the amount of radiation used for the medical purpose as there usually is more good than harm to the patient's health and life caused by the medical exposure to the radiation. However, the rapid increase of the use of diagnostic radiation involves a high possibility of increasing the radiation hazard exposure. Therefore, it is imperative to implement effective regulations in order to secure the safety of diagnostic radiation. The one and only rule we currently have for the diagnostic radiation is "Medicine Act" with only one clause dedicated to regulate the safety management that does not include any rules for the medical radiation. A set of inclusive rules for the whole medical radiation inclusive of diagnostic radiation and therapeutic radiation need to be based on the "Medicine Act" rather than "Nuclear Safety Act" in order to protect the medical professionals, patients and the guardians of patients from the hazards of diagnostic and/or therapeutic radiation that was not used the purpose of medical treatment. If there is an administrative measure to be imposed to secure the safety of diagnostic radiation, it is considered as exertion of governmental authority of administrative agency. There must be clear and realistic legal guidelines for in-fringe on people's interests. The administrative measures for the safety management of the diagnostic radiation must be clearly and specifically based on the law and the detailed standards for the administrative measures must be dele-gated by the presidential decree or departmental ordinance. Accordingly, the restrictions imposed by the administrative measures to the "Safety Inspection Institute of Radiation along with Radiation Exposure Measuring Institutes" should have clear legal basis as well and the detailed standards for the administrative measures should be regulated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare decree instead of the notification by the Director of Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While securing the safety of radiation on one side, careful review and up-grade on our legal system for the safety management of the diagnostic radiation is required on the other side to guarantee the legality, interest balance and reliability of the administrative measures.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1984

One hundred and twenty patients with brain metastases were seen and evaluated in the Dept. of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital between 1979 and 1983. Of these, 90 Patients received whole brain irradiation with 2,000 ra4 in 1 week or 3,000 rad in 2 weeks for Palliative Purpose and 30 patients failed to complete the planned treatment. Carcinoma of the lung(44 cases), choriocarcinoma(11 cases), breast(8 cases) were common Primary tumors of 90 patients receiving planned treatment. Symptomatic subjective response was obtained in $92\%$ of Patients and meurologic functional improvement was obtained in $42\%$ of patients. Median survival was 6.4 months in patients with complete treatment an·d less than 2 months in Patients with incomplete treatment, overall survival rate at 1 year and 2 year were $26\%,\;16\%$ in Patients with complete treatment and $8\%,\;0\%$ in patients with incomplete treatment. Primary site, extent of metastases and interval from diagnosis of primary tumor to brain metastases were identified as prognostic factors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2020

Purpose: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) allows for more precise treatment, reducing unwanted radiation to nearby structures. We investigated the safety and feasibility of IMRT for anaplastic ependymoma patients below 3 years of age. Materials and Methods: A total of 9 anaplastic ependymoma patients below 3 years of age, who received IMRT between October 2011 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The median equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions was 52.0 Gy (range, 48.0 to 60.0 Gy). Treatment outcomes and neurologic morbidities were reviewed in detail. Results: The median patient age was 20.9 months (range, 12.1 to 31.2 months). All patients underwent surgery. The rates of 5-year overall survival, freedom from local recurrence, and progression-free survival were 40.6%, 53.3%, and 26.7%, respectively. Of the 9 patients, 5 experienced recurrences (3 had local recurrence, 1 had both local recurrence and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] seeding, and 1 had CSF seeding alone). Five patients died because of disease progression. Assessment of neurologic morbidity revealed motor dysfunction in 3 patients, all of whom presented with hydrocephalus at initial diagnosis because of the location of the tumor and already had neurologic deficits before radiotherapy (RT). Conclusion: Neurologic morbidity is not caused by RT alone but may result from mass effects of the tumor and surgical sequelae. Administration of IMRT to anaplastic ependymoma patients below 3 years of age yielded encouraging local control and tolerable morbidities. High-precision modern RT such as IMRT can be considered for very young patients with anaplastic ependymoma.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
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• v.3C no.6
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• pp.224-229
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• 2003

An ultra high frequency (UHF) coupler possessing ultra wide band (UWB) characteristics ranging from hundreds of MHz to several GHz is desirable for the detection of the partial discharge (PD) pulses because the pulses propagate with rise time shorter than one nanosecond in a gas-insulated substation (GIS). Thus, the authors have proposed a log-periodic antenna for GIS PD detection. Various parameters of the coupler such as frequency bandwidth, coupler gain, radiation pattern, and coupler geometry were considered throughout the simulations. The experiments for the detection characteristics of the coupler were carried out in the mock-up GIS chamber. The results indicated that the detection characteristics of the coupler are dependent on the installation angle of the coupler, the position of the coupler in the hand hole and the existence of the spacer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.411-419
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• 1993

A total of 44 patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas had received conservative surgery and radiation therapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1990. Initial surgical treatment consisted of intracapsular excision in 33 patients $(75\%),$ marginal excision in 9 patients, and wide excision in two patients. Total radiation doses were between 40Gy and 65Gy (median 60 Gy). Median follow-up period was 47 months. Overall actuarial 5-year survival rate was $76.9\%$ and 5-year recurrence free survival rate was $39.3\%.$ There was no statistically significant prognostic factors but the 5-year survival rates tended to be decreased in the patients with high grade tumors and treated with narrow surgical extent. Sixteen patients recurred during fellow-up (16/31, $51.6\%).$ The incidence of initial local recurrence was $22.6\%$ (7/31) and distant metastasis was $29\%(9/31).$ Of the 7 who did not have metastasis at diagnosis of local recurrence, 5 were submitted to a salvage treatment. All of them achieved local control and distant metastasis appeared in three of them. In conclusion, conservative surgery and radiation therapy in the patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas was the effective treatment modality.