• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

Purpose: It is very important to confirm conformance of dose distribution that is formed with treatment planning from IMRS or IMRT. It has been a problem dropped accuracy and conformance when the field size is getting smaller because of character of the 2D ion chamber. Verification of MatriXX Phantom dose distribution with a change in the SAD. Dose distribution measurement and analysis to improve the accuracy and should be useful to evaluate the award. Materials and Methods: A use of Novalis linear accelerator 6 MV photon beams. In general, IMRS were 25 patients with small field size. The selected patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the field size. SAD was changed from 80 to 130 cm and field size to determine the dose distribution to the change, each dose was measured using MatriXX Phantom. Analysis of measured values obtained from the program for each patient through the treatment planning system comparison and analysis of the dose distribution and gamma values were expressed. Result: SAD 80, 100, and 120 cm in size in the gamma value to the investigation of patients less than $3\;cm^2$ average 0.939, 0.969, and 0.979, respectively. Patients with more than $5\;cm^2$ 0.962, 0.983, and 0.988, respectively. $5\;cm^2$ or more patients 0.982, 0.990, and 0.992, respectively. Conclusion: The error rate of less than $3\;cm^2$ field size is increased rapidly. If the field size is increased, resolution is increased by 2D ion chambers. It has been approved that it can be credible if it is around $3\;cm^2$ when measuring dose distribution using MatriXX. Adjusting geometric field size by changing SAD is likely to be very useful when you measure dose distribution using MatriXX.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.230-236
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• 2013

Our purpose is to present a novel technique for delivering craniospinal irradiation in the supine position using a perfect match, field-in-field (FIF) intrafractional feathering, and simple forward-optimization technique. To achieve this purpose, computed tomography simulation was performed with patients in the supine position. Half-beam, blocked, opposed, lateral, cranial fields with a collimator rotation were matched to the divergence of the superior border of an upper-spinal field. Fixed field parameters were used, and the isocenter of the upper-spinal field was placed at the same source-to-axis distance (SAD), 20 cm inferior to the cranial isocenter. For a lower-spinal field, the isocenter was placed 40 cm inferior to the cranial isocenter at a constant SAD. Both gantry and couch rotations for the lower-spinal field were used to achieve perfect divergence match with the inferior border of the upper-spinal field. A FIF technique was used to feather the craniospinal and spinal-spinal junction daily by varying the match line over 2 cm. The dose throughout the target volume was modulated using the FIF simple forward optimization technique to obtain homogenous coverage. Daily, image-guided therapy was used to assure and verify the setup. This supine-position, perfect match craniospinal irradiation technique with FIF intrafractional feathering and dose modulation provides a simple and safe way to deliver treatment while minimizing dose inhomogeneity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 1994

Purpose : This study was to obtain the basic dosimetric data using the 10 MV X-ray for the total body irradiation. Materials and Methods : A linear accelerator photon beam is planned to be used as a radiation source for total body irradiation (TBI) in Chonnam University Hospital. The planned distance from the target to the midplane of a patient is 360cm and the maximum geometric field size is 144cm x 144cm. Polystyrene phantom sized $30{\times}30{\times}30.2cm^3$ and consisted of several sheets with various thickness, and a parallel plate ionization chamber were used to measure surface dose and percent depth dose (PDD) at 345cm SSD, and dose profiles. To evaluate whether a beam modifier is necessary for TBI, dosimetry in build up region was made first with no modifier and next with an 1cm thick acryl plate 20cm far from the polystyrene phantom surface. For a fixed sourec-chamber distance, output factors were measured for various depth. Results : As any beam modifier was not on the way of radiation of 10MV X-ray, the $d_{max}$ and surface dose was 1.8cm and $61\%$, respectively, for 345cm SSD. When an 1cm thick acryl plate was put 20cm far from polystyrene phantom for the SSD, the $d_{max}$ and surface dose were 0.8cm and $94\%$, respectively. With acryl as a beam spoiler, the PDD at 10cm depth was $78.4\%$ and exit dose was a little higher than expected dose at interface of exit surface. For two-opposing fields for a 30cm phantom thick phantom, the surface dose and maximum dose relative to mid-depth dose in our experiments were $102.5\%$ and $106.3\%$, respectively. The off-axis distance of that point of $95\%$ of beam axis dose were 70cm on principal axis and 80cm on diagonal axis. Conclusion: 1. To increase surface dose for TBI by 10MV X-ray at 360cm SAD, 1cm thick acrylic spoiler was sufficient when distance from phantom surface to spoiler was 20cm. 2. At 345cm SSD, 10MV X-ray beam of full field produced a satisfiable dose uniformity for TBI within $7\%$ in the phantom of 30cm thickness by two-opposing irradiation technique. 3. The uniform dose distribution region was 67cm on principal axis of the beam and 80cm on diagonal axis from beam axis. 4. The output factors at mid-point of various thickness revealed linear relation with depth, and it could be applicable to practical TBI.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2005

Purpose : It is known that the neutron is generally generated from the photon, its energy is larger than 10 MV. The neutron is leaked in the container inspection system installed at the customs though its energy is below 9 MV. It is needed that the spacial effect of the neutrons released from radiation treatment machine, linac, installed in the medical canter. Materials and Methods : The medical linear accelerator(Clinac 1800, varian, USA) was used in the experiment. Measuring neutron was used bubble detector(Bubble detector, BDPND type, BTI, Canada) which was created bubble by neutron. The bubble detector is located on the medical linear accelerator outskirt in three different distance, 30, 50, 120 cm and upper, lower four point from the iso-center. In addition, for effect on protect material we have measured eight points which are 50 cm distance from iso-center. The SAD(source-axis-distance), distance from photon source to iso-center, is adjusted to 100 cm and the field size is adjusted to $15{\times}15cm^2$. Irradiate 20 MU and calculate the dose rate in mrem/MU by measuring the number of bubble. Results : The neutron is more detected at 5 position in 30, 50 cm, 7 position in 120 cm and with wedge, and 2 position without mount. Conclusion : Though detection position is laid in the same distance in neutron measurement, the different value is shown in measuring results. Also, neutron dose is affected by the additional structure, the different value is obtained in each measurement positions. So, it is needed to measure and evaluate the neutron dose in the whole space considering the effect of the distance, angular distribution and additional structure.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.156-166
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• 1995

Total body irradiation (TBI) requires large radiation field and extended source to axis distance (SAD), therefore in needs large size treatment room and it needs compensators which components. Appropriate thickness beam spoiler should be used to raise skin dose. Treatment machine, photon energy, total dose, dose rate, dose fractionation, patient position, shield of normal tissues and organs were known to important parameters for TBI. TBI disturbes regular daily treatment schedule and significantly overloads Radiation on oncology departments and during the treatment session it requires accurate reproduction of radiation field and patient position. We were enable to TBI in small size treatment room and short SAD with parallel opposing lateral fields technique and achieved homogenious whole body dose distribution using pb compensators and controled lung dose by lung shield blocks. Drawing a patient shadow on the wall, we could shortened set up time and possible to accurate reproduction of radiation field and patient position.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 1994

Purpose : This study was performed to verify dose distribution with the tissue compensator which is used for uniform dose distribution in total body irradiation(TBI). Materials and methods : The compensators were made of lead(0.8mm thickness) and aluminum(1mm or 5mm thickness) plates. The humanoid phantom of adult size was made of paraffin as a real treatment position for bilateral total body technique. The humanoid phantom was set at 360cm of source-axis distance(SAD) and irradiated with geographical field size(FS) $144{\times}144cm^2(40{\times}40cm^2$ at SAD 100cm) which covered the entire phantom. Irradiation was done with 10MV X-ray(CLINAC 1800, Varian Co., USA) of linear accelerator set at Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Chonnam University Hospital. The midline absorbed dose was checked at the various regions such as head, mouth, mid-neck, sternal notch, mid-mediastinum, xiphoid, umbilicus, pelvis, knee and ankle with or without compensator, respectively. We used exposure/exposure rate meter(model 192, Capintec Inc., USA) with ionization chamber(PR 05) for dosimetry, For the dosimetry of thorax region TLD rods of $1x1x6mm^3$ in volume(LiF, Harshaw Co., Netherland) was used at the commercially available humanoid phantom. Results : The absorbed dose of each point without tissue compensator revealed significant difference(from $-11.8\%\;to\;21.1\%$) compared with the umbilicus dose which is a dose prescription point in TBI. The absorbed dose without compensator at sternal notch including shoulder was $11.8\%$ less than the dose of umbilicus. With lead compensator the absorbed doses ranged from $+1.3\%\;to\;-5.3\%$ except mid-neck which revealed over-compensation($-7.9\%$). In case of aluminum compensator the absorbed doses were measured with less difference(from $-2.6{\%}\;to\;5.3\%$) compared with umbilicus dose. Conclusion : Both of lead and aluminum compensators applied to the skull or lower leg revealed a good compensation effect. It was recognized that boost irradiation or choosing reference point of dose prescription at sternal notch according to the lateral thickness of patient in TBI should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

Purpose: IMRT quality assurance(Q.A) is consist of the absolute dosimetry using ionization chamber and relative dosimetry using the film. We have in general used 0.015 cc ionization chamber, because small size and measure the point dose. But this ionization chamber is too small to give an accurate measurement value. In this study, we have examined the degree of calculated to measured dose difference in intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) based on the observed/expected ratio using various kinds of ion chambers, which were used for absolute dosimetry. Materials and Methods: we peformed the 6 cases of IMRT sliding-window method for head and neck cases. Radiation was delivered by using a Clinac 21EX unit(Varian, USA) generating a 6 MV x-ray beam, which is equipped with an integrated multileaf collimator. The dose rate for IMRT treatment is set to 300 MU/min. The ion chamber was located 5cm below the surface of phantom giving 100cm as a source-axis distance(SAD). The various types of ion chambers were used including 0.015cc(pin point type 31014, PTW. Germany), 0.125 cc(micro type 31002, PTW, Germany) and 0.6 cc(famer type 30002, PTW, Germany). The measurement point was carefully chosen to be located at low-gradient area. Results: The experimental results show that the average differences between plan value and measured value are ${\pm}0.91%$ for 0.015 cc pin point chamber, ${\pm}0.52%$ for 0.125 cc micro type chamber and ${\pm}0.76%$ for farmer type 0.6cc chamber. The 0.125 cc micro type chamber is appropriate size for dose measure in IMRT. Conclusion: IMRT Q.A is the important procedure. Based on the various types of ion chamber measurements, we have demonstrated that the dose discrepancy between calculated dose distribution and measured dose distribution for IMRT plans is dependent on the size of ion chambers. The reason is small size ionization chamber have the high signal-to-noise ratio and big size ionization chamber is not located accurate measurement point. Therefore our results suggest the 0.125 cc farmer type chamber is appropriate size for dose measure in IMRT.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to measure curvature contour skin dose using radiochromic film and TLD for a conventional open field. We also attempted to quantify the degradation of skin sparing associated with use of immobilization devices for high energy photon beams and to calculate the skin dose with a help of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. To simulate head-and-neck and shoulder treatment, a cylindrical solid water phantom 11 cm in diameter was irradiated with 6 MV x-rays using $40{\times}40\;cm^2$ field at 100 cm source axis distance (SAD) to the center of the phantom. Aquaplastic mesh mask was placed on the surface of the cylindrical phantom that mimicked relevant clinical situations. The skin dose profile was obtained by taking measurements from $0^{\circ}$ to $360^{\circ}$ around the circumference of the cylindrical phantom. The skin doses obtained from radiochromic film were found to be 47% of the maximum dose of $D_{max}$ at the $0^{\circ}$ beam entry position and 61% at the $90^{\circ}$ oblique beam position without the mask. Using the mask (1.5 mm), the skin dose received was 59% at $0^{\circ}$ incidence and 78% at $80^{\circ}$ incidence. Skin dose results were also gathered using thin thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). With the mask, the skin dose was 66% at $0^{\circ}$ incidence and 80% at $80^{\circ}$ incidence. This method with the mask revealed the similar pattern as film measurement. For the treatments of the head-and-neck and shoulder regions in which immobilization mask was used, skin doses at around tangential angle were nearly the same as the prescription dose. When a sloping skin contour is encountered, skin doses may be abated using thinner and more perforated immoblization devices which should still maintain immoblization.