• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of our study was to compare the dosimetric advantages of Flattening filter free (FFF) beams for trigeminal neuralgia patients using 4 mm conical collimators over previously treated patients with 6 MV SRS beam. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for 5 TN patients who had been previously treated at our institution using frame-based, LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on Novalis Tx using 6 MV SRS beam were replanned on 6X FFF beams on Edge Linear accelerator with same beam angles and dose constraints using 4 mm conical collimator. The total number of monitor units along with the beam on time was compared for both Edge and Novalis Tx by redelivering the plans in QA mode of LINAC to compare the delivery efficiency. Plan quality was evaluated by homogeneity index (HI) and Paddick gradient index (GI) for each plan. We also analyzed the doses to brainstem and organ at risks (OARs). Results and Discussion: A 28% beam-on time reduction was achieved using 6X FFF when compared with 6X SRS beam of Novalis Tx. A sharp dose fall off with gradient index value of $3.4{\pm}0.27$ for 4 mm Varian conical collimator while $4.17{\pm}0.20$ with BrainLab cone. Among the 5 patients treated with a 4 mm cone, average maximum brainstem dose was 10.24 Gy for Edge using 6X FFF and 14.28 Gy for Novalis Tx using 6X SRS beam. Conclusion: The use of FFF beams improves delivery efficiency and conical collimator reduces dose to OAR's for TN radiosurgery. Further investigation is warranted with larger sample patient data.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.517-529
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• 1998

Purpose : Although many studies have investigated the dosimetric aspects of stereotactic radiosurgery in terms of target volume, the absorbed doses at extracranial sites: especially the lens or thyroid - which are sensitive to radiation for deterministic or stochastic effect -have infrequently been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate what effects the parameters of radiosurgery have on the absorbed doses of the lens and thyroid in patients treated by stereotactic radiosurgery, using a systematic plan in a humanoid phantom. Materials and Methods : Six isocenters were selected and radiosurgery was planned using the stereotactic radiosurgery system which the Department of Therapeutic Radiology at Seoul National University College of Medicine developed. The experimental radiosurgery plan consisted of 6 arc planes per one isocenter, 100 degrees for each arc range and an accessory collimator diameter size of 2 cm. After 250 cGy of irradiation from each arc, the doses absorbed at the lens and thyroid were measured by thermoluminescence dosimetry. Results : The lens dose was 0.23$\pm$0.08$\%$ of the maximum dose for each isocenter when the exit beam did not pass through the lens and was 0.76$\pm$0.12$\%$ of the maximum dose for each isocenter when the exit beam passed through the lens. The thyroid dose was 0.18$\pm$0.05$\%$ of the maximum dose for each isocenter when the exit beam did not pass through the thyroid and was 0.41$\pm$0.04$\%$ of the maximum dose for each isocenter when the exit beam Passed through the thyroid. The passing of the exit beam is the most significant factor of organ dose and the absorbed dose by an arc crossing organ decides 80$\%$ of the total dose. The absorbed doses of the lens and thyroid were larger as the isocenter sites and arc planes were closer to each organ. There were no differences in the doses at the surface and 5 mm depth from the surface in the eyelid and thyroid areas. Conclusion : As the isocenter and arc plane were placed closer to the lens and thyroid, the doses increased. Whether the exit beams passed through the lens or thyroid greatly influenced the lens and thyroid dose. The surface dose of the lens and thyroid consistently represent the tissue dose. Even when the exit beam passes through the lens and thyroid, the doses are less than 1$\%$ of the maximum dose and therefore, are too low to evoke late complications, but nevertheless, we should try to minimize the thyroid dose in children, whenever possible.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate efficacy and complication of stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame. Methods and Materials :From December 1997 to June 1999, 11 patients with primary and metastatic tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame(Precision TherapyTu). Three patients were treated with primary hepatoma and seven with metastatic tumor from liver, lung, breast, trachea and one with arteriovenous malformation on neck. We used vacuum pillow for immobilization and made skin marker on sternum and tibia area with chest marker and leg marker. Diaphragm control was used for reducing movement by respiration. CT-simulation and treatment planning were peformed. Set-up error was checked by CT-Simulator before each treatment. Dose were calculated on the 80$\~$90$\%$ isodose of isocenter dose and given consecutive 3 fractions for total dose of 30 Gy (10 Gy/fraction). Results :Median follow-up was 12 months. One patient (9$\%$) showed complete response and four Patients (36$\%$) showed partial response and others showed stable disease. Planning target volumes (PTV) ranged from 3 to 111 cc (mean 18.4 n). Set-up error was within 5 mm in all directions (X, Y, Z axis). There was no complication in all patients. Conclusion :In Primary and metastatic tumors, stereotactic body frame is very safe, accurate and effective treatment modality.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.9-16
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• 2018

Purpose : Brain Stereotactic Radiosurgery can treat non-invasive diseases with high rates of complications due to surgical operations. However, brain stereotactic radiosurgery may be accompanied by radiation induced side effects such as fractionation radiation therapy because it uses radiation. The effects of Coplanar Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy(C-VMAT) and Non-Coplanar Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy(NC-VMAT) on surrounding normal tissues were analyzed in order to reduce the side effects caused fractionation radiation therapy such as head and neck. But, brain stereotactic radiosurgery these contents were not analyzed. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of NC-VMAT by comparing and analyzing C-VMAT and NC-VMAT in patients who underwent brain stereotactic radiosurgery. Methods and materials : With C-VMAT and NC-VMAT, 13 treatment plans for brain stereotactic radiosurgery were established. The Planning Target Volume ranged from a minimum of 0.78 cc to a maximum of 12.26 cc, Prescription doses were prescribed between 15 and 24 Gy. Treatment machine was TrueBeam STx (Varian Medical Systems, USA). The energy used in the treatment plan was 6 MV Flattening Filter Free (6FFF) X-ray. The C-VMAT treatment plan used a half 2 arc or full 2 arc treatment plan, and the NC-VMAT treatment plan used 3 to 7 Arc 40 to 190 degrees. The angle of the couch was planned to be 3-7 angles. Results : The mean value of the maximum dose was $105.1{\pm}1.37%$ in C-VMAT and $105.8{\pm}1.71%$ in NC-VMAT. Conformity index of C-VMAT was $1.08{\pm}0.08$ and homogeneity index was $1.03{\pm}0.01$. Conformity index of NC-VMAT was $1.17{\pm}0.1$ and homogeneity index was $1.04{\pm}0.01$. $V_2$, $V_8$, $V_{12}$, $V_{18}$, $V_{24}$ of the brain were $176{\pm}149.36cc$, $31.50{\pm}25.03cc$, $16.53{\pm}12.63cc$, $8.60{\pm}6.87cc$ and $4.03{\pm}3.43cc$ in the C-VMAT and $135.55{\pm}115.93cc$, $24.34{\pm}17.68cc$, $14.74{\pm}10.97cc$, $8.55{\pm}6.79cc$, $4.23{\pm}3.48cc$. Conclusions : The maximum dose, conformity index, and homogeneity index showed no significant difference between C-VMAT and NC-VMAT. $V_2$ to $V_{18}$ of the brain showed a difference of at least 0.5 % to 48 %. $V_{19}$ to $V_{24}$ of the brain showed a difference of at least 0.4 % to 4.8 %. When we compare the mean value of $V_{12}$ that Radione-crosis begins to generate, NC-VMAT has about 12.2 % less amount than C-VMAT. These results suggest that if NC-VMAT is used, the volume of $V_2$ to $V_{18}$ can be reduced, which can reduce Radionecrosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.650-658
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• 2000

Objective : To evaluate the role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in essential and tumor-related(secondary) trigeminal neuralgia, outcomes of radiosurgery and microsurgery were compared each other. Methods : Five patients with essential trigeminal neuralgia underwent stereotactic radiosurgical treatment with Leksell Gamma Knife and twenty five patients were treated with microsurgery during the same period(1994. 1-1997. 6). A 4-mm collimator was used and REZ or proximal portion of trigeminal nerve was targeted with maximal dose of 60-72Gy. The mean follow-up after radiosurgery was 39.4 months and that after microsurgery was 47.9 months. Results : At the last follow-up, four patients(80%) had excellent(pain free) or good(50-90% pain relief) outcomes, one(20%) had poor control after radiosurgical treatment. Twenty-three patients(92%) had excellent or good outcomes and two(8%) had poor results after microsurgery. Postoperative complications occurred in ten(40%) with microsurgery, but there were no complications in patients with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Six patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia received radiosurgical treatment directed at their tumors, and three patients were surgically treated. Three of six(50%) patients treated with Gamma Knife had pain relief while two of three patients with surgical treatment showed immediate pain relief. Post-treatment complications were developed in two of six radiosurgical patients and in one of three surgical patients. Conclusion : Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery may be considered as a useful and alternative option for the treatment of essential and secondary trigeminal neuralgia owing to of its safety and less complications. The preliminary results obtained in our series appear encouraging, although the outcome is not so good as that of surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.415-426
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• 2020

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital anomalies of the cerebrovascular system. AVM harbors 2.2% annual hemorrhage risk in unruptured cases and 4.5% annual hemorrhage risk of previously ruptured cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) have been shown excellent treatment outcomes for patients with small- to moderated sized AVM which can be achieved in 80-90% complete obliteration rate with a 2-3 years latency period. The most important factors are associated with obliteration after SRS is the radiation dose to the AVM. In our institutional clinical practice, now 22 Gy (50% isodose line) dose of radiation has been used for treatment of cerebral AVM in single-session radiosurgery. However, dose-volume relationship can be unfavorable for large AVMs when treated in a single-session radiosurgery, resulting high complication rates for effective dose. Thus, various strategies should be considered to treat large AVM. The role of pre-SRS embolization is permanent volume reduction of the nidus and treat high-risk lesion such as AVM-related aneurysm and high-flow arteriovenous shunt. Various staging technique of radiosurgery including volume-staged radiosurgery, hypofractionated radiotherapy and dose-staged radiosurgery are possible option for large AVM. The incidence of post-radiosurgery complication is varied, the incidence rate of radiological post-radiosurgical complication has been reported 30-40% and symptomatic complication rate was reported from 8.1% to 11.8%. In the future, novel therapy which incorporate endovascular treatment using liquid embolic material and new radiosurgical technique such as gene or cytokine-targeted radio-sensitization should be needed.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1994 no.12
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• pp.85-87
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• 1994

In this paper, we present an object-oriented stereotactic radiosurgery planning system, which accepts medical images such as CT and angiography, transforms the coordinates to a reference frame coordinate, calculates dose distributions, and finally displays isodose curves over the images. The user finds an adequate one for radiosurgeries after performing computer simulations on different treatment parameter sets. The object-oriented design concept was fully applied to the system composed of seven manager objects of different classes: a patient information manager, a user-interface manager, a coordinate transformation manager, a blackboard manager, a dose calculation manager, an isodose curve display manager, and a report manager. All the user interactions are carried out through the use of mouse buttons. The performance of the system was verified by four physicians and two medical physicists, and now is being used in two clinical sites.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2018

Objective : We investigated the outcomes of repeat stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for metastatic brain tumors that locally recurred despite previous SRS, focusing on the tumor control. Methods : A total of 114 patients with 176 locally recurring metastatic brain tumors underwent repeat SRS after previous SRS. The mean age was 59.4 years (range, 33 to 85), and there were 68 male and 46 female patients. The primary cancer types were non-small cell lung cancer (n=67), small cell lung cancer (n=12), gastrointestinal tract cancer (n=15), breast cancer (n=10), and others (n=10). The number of patients with a single recurring metastasis was 95 (79.8%), and another 19 had multiple recurrences. At the time of the repeat SRS, the mean volume of the locally recurring tumors was 5.94 mL (range, 0.42 to 29.94). We prescribed a mean margin dose of 17.04 Gy (range, 12 to 24) to the isodose line at the tumor border primarily using a 50% isodose line. Results : After the repeat SRS, we obtained clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up data for 84 patients (73.7%) with a total of 108 tumors. The tumor control rate was 53.5% (58 of the 108), and the median and mean progression-free survival (PFS) periods were 246 and 383 days, respectively. The prognostic factors that were significantly related to better tumor control were prescription radiation dose of 16 Gy (p=0.000) and tumor volume less than both 4 mL (p=0.001) and 10 mL at the repeat SRS (p=0.008). The overall survival (OS) periods for all 114 patients after repeat SRS varied from 1 to 56 months, and median and mean OS periods were 229 and 404 days after the repeat SRS, respectively. The main cause of death was systemic problems including pulmonary dysfunction (n=58, 51%), and the identified direct or suspected brain-related death rate was around 20%. Conclusion : The tumor control following repeat SRS for locally recurring metastatic brain tumors after a previous SRS is relatively lower than that for primary SRS. However, both low tumor volume and high prescription radiation dose were significantly related to the tumor control following repeat SRS for these tumors after previous SRS, which is a general understanding of primary SRS for metastatic brain tumors.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1992

Recently, stereotactic radiosurgery plan is required with the information of 3-D image and dose distribution. The purpose of this research is to develop 3-D radiosurgery planning system using personal computer. The procedure of this research is based on three steps. The first step is to input the image information of the patient obtained from CT or MR scan into personal computer through on-line or digitizer. The position and shape of target are also transferred into computer using Angio or CT localization. The second step is to compute dose distribution on image plane, which is transformed into stereotactic frame coordinate. and to optimize dose distribution through the selection of optimal treatment parameters. The third step is to display both isodose distribution and patient image simultaneously using superimpose technique. This prototype of radiosurgery planning system was applied recently for several clinical cases. It was shown that our planning system is fast, accurate and efficient while making it possible to handle various kinds of image modelities such as angio, CT and MRI. It is also possible to develop 3-D planning system in radiation therapy using beam's eye view or CT simulation in future.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.421-430
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• 1993

The calculation of dose distribution in multiple arc stereotactic radiotherapy is a three-dimensional problem and, therefore, the three-dimensional dose calculation algorithm is important and the algorithm's accuracy and reliability should be confirmed experimentally. The aim of this study is to verify the dose distribution of stereotactic radiosurgery experimentally and to investigate the effect of the beam quality, the number of arcs of radiation, and the tertiary collimation on the resulting dose distribution. Film dosimetry with phantom measurements was done to get the three-dimensional orthogonal isodose distribution. All experiments were carried out with a 6 MV X-ray, except for the study of the effects of beam energy on dose distribution, which was done for X-ray energies of 6 and 15 MV. The irradiation technique was from 4 to 11 arcs at intervals of from 15 to 45 degrees between each arc with various field sizes with additional circular collimator. The dose distributions of square field with linear accelerator collimator compared with the dose distributions obtained using circular field with tertiary collimator. The parameters used for comparing the results were the shape of the isodose curve, dose fall-offs fom $90\%$ to $50\%$ and from $90\%\;to\;20\%$ isodose line for the steepest and shallowest profile, and $A=\frac{90\%\;isodose\;area}{50\%\;isodose\;area-90\%\;isodose\;area}$(modified from Chierego). This ratio may be considered as being proportional to the sparing of normal tissue around the target volume. The effect of beam energy in 6 and 15 MV X-ray indicated that the shapes of isodose curves were the same. The value of ratio A and the steepest and shallowest dose fall-offs for 6 MV X-ray was minimally better than that for 15 MV X-ray. These data illustrated that an increase in the dimensions of the field from 10 to 28 mm in diameter did not significantly change the isodose distribution. There was no significant difference in dose gradient and the shape of isodose curve regardless of the number of arcs for field sizes of 10, 21, and 32 mm in diameter. The shape of isodose curves was more circular in circular field and square in square field. And the dose gradient for the circular field was slightly better than that for the square field.