• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.471-476
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• 2007

Various active microwave imaging techniques have been developed for cancer detection for past several decades. Both the microwave tomography and the UWB radar techniques, constituting functional microwave imaging systems, use the electrical property contrast between normal tissues and malignancies to detect the latter in an early development stage. Even though promising simulation results have been reported, the understanding of the functional microwave imaging diagnostics has been relied heavily on the complicated numerical results. We present a computationally efficient and physically instructive analytical electromagnetic wave channel models developed for functional microwave imaging system in order to detect especially the breast tumors as early as possible. The channel model covers the propagation factors that have been examined in the previous 2-D models, such as the radial spreading, path loss, partial reflection and transmission of the backscattered electromagnetic waves from the tumor cell. The effects of the system noise and the noise from the inhomogeneity of the tissue to the reconstruction algorithm are modeled as well. The characteristics of the reconstructed images of the tumor using the proposed model are compared with those from the confocal microwave imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.181-184
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• 2016

Short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) is widely used for spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because the pulse sequence of STIR is insensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneity and can be used to scan a large field of view. In this case report, we present a case of spinal epidural hematoma with unexpected signal decrease on a STIR image. The MRI showed an epidural mass that appeared with high signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. However, a signal decrease was encountered on the STIR image. This nonspecific decrease of signal in tissue with a short T1 relaxation time that is similar to that of fat (i.e., hemorrhage) could lead to a diagnostic pitfall; one could falsely diagnose this decrease of signal as fat instead of hemorrhage. Awareness of the nonselective signal suppression achieved with STIR pulse sequences may avert an erroneous diagnosis in image interpretation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 1997

Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop an algorithm for estimation of tumor dose using measured transmission dose as a part of the development of on-line dosimetry system. Materials and Methods: Data of transmission dose were measured under various FS, Tp and PCD with a special water phantom for 6 MV and 10 MV X-ray. SCD (source-chamber distance) was set to 150 cm. Measurements were conducted with a 0.125 cc ion chamber. Results: Using measured data and regression analysis, two algorithms were developed for estimation of expected reading for measured data. Algorithm 1 consisted of the quadratic function of PCD and the tertiary function of AlP (area-perimeter ratio). Algorithm 2 consisted of the tertiary function of log(A/P)and the tertiary function of PCD. Algorithm 2 required less data set and was more accurate in comparing expected and observed dose. Conclusion: Using the algorithm developed, transmission dose can be estimated for any exposure condition, i.e. any given Tp, PCD and FS with high accuracy. To complete this algorithm, further developments are needed regarding the beam modifying device, the tissue inhomogeneity and the irregular body surface.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.311-322
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• 2010

In proton therapy, the analysis of secondary particles is important due to delivered dose outside the target volume and thus increased potential risk for the development of secondary cancer. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of secondary particles from proton beams on fluence and energy deposition in the presence of inhomogeneous material by using Geant4 simulation toolkit. The inhomogeneity was modeled with the condition that the adipose tissue, bone and lung equivalent slab with thickness of 2 cm were inserted at 30% (Plateau region) and 80% (Bragg peak region) dose points of maximum dose in Bragg curve. The energy of proton was varied with 100, 130, 160 and 190 MeV for energy dependency. The results for secondary particles were presented for the fluence and deposited energy of secondary particles at inhomogeneous condition. Our study demonstrates that the fluence of secondary particles is neither influenced insertion of inhomogeneties nor the energy of initial proton, while there is a little effect by material density. The deposited energy of secondary particles has a difference in the position placed inhomogeneous materials. In the Plateau region, deposited energy of secondary particles mostly depends on the density of inserted materials. Deposited energy in the Bragg region, in otherwise, is influenced by both density of inserted material and initial energy of proton beams. Our results suggest a possibility of prediction about the distribution of secondary particles within complex heterogeneity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1995

Purpose : This study was performed to measure dose alteration at the air-tissue interface resulting from rebuild-up to the loss of charged particle equilibrium in the tissues around the air-tissue interfaces. Materials and Methods : The 6 and 10-MV photon beam in dual energy linear accelerator were used to measure the surface dose at the air-tissue interface The polystyrene phantom sized $25{\times}25{\times}5\;cm^3$ and a water phantom sized $29{\times}29{\times}48\;cm^3$ which incorporates a parallel-plate ionization chamber in the distal side of air gap were used in this study. The treatment field sizes were $5{\times}5\;cm^2,\;10{\times}10\;cm^2\;and\;20{\times}20\;cm^2$. Air cavity thickness was variable from 10 mm to 50 mm. The observed-expected ratio (OER) was defined as the ratio of dose measured at the distal junction that is air-tissue interface to the dose measured at the same point in a homogeneous phantom. Results : In this experiment, the result of OER was close or slightly over than 1.0 for the large field size but much less (about 0.565) than 1.0 for the small field size in both photon energy. The factors to affect the dose distribution at the air-tissue interface were the field size, the thickness of air cavity. and the photon energy. Conclusion : Thus, the radiation oncologist should take into account dose reduction at the air-tissue interface when planning the head and neck cancer especially pharynx and laryngeal lesions, because the dose can be less nearly $29{\%}$ than predicted value.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2573-2577
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine a method of dose prescription that minimizes normal tissue irradiation outside the planning target volume (PTV) during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Previous research and patients with typical T1 lung tumors with peripheral lesions in the lung were selected for analysis. A PTV and several organs at risk (OARs) were constructed for the dose calculated; six treatment plans employing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were produced, in which the dose was prescribed to encompass the PTV, with the prescription isodose level (PIL) set at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 95% of the isocenter dose. Additionally, four OARs around the PTV were constructed to evaluate the dose received in adjacent tissues. Results: The use of higher PILs for SBRT resulted in improved sparing of OARs, with the exception of the volume of lung treated with a lower dose. Conclusions: The use of lower PILs is likely to create significant inhomogeneity of the dose delivered to the target, which may be beneficial for the control of tumors with poor conformity indices.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2006

Purpose: To demonstrate that water bolus in the patient surface can decrease the dose inhomogeneity by patient surface large tissue defect when the surface is in an electron-beam field. And We tried to find a easy way to water control. Methods and Materials: To demonstrate the use of water bolus in the irregular surface clinically, the case of a patient with myxofibrosarcoma of the chest wall who was treated with electrons. We obtained dose distribution using missing tissue option of PINACLE 6.2b (ADAC, USA). We fabricate a Mev-green for water bolus in patient with defect of tissue. Then put the water bolus which is vinyl packed water into the designed Mev-green. We peformed CT scan with CT-simulator. Three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions with and without water bolus in the large irregular chest wall were calculated for a representative patient. Resulting dose distributions and dose-volume histograms of water bolus were compared with missing tissue option and non bolus plans. We fabricate a new water control device. Results: Controlled Water bolus markedly decrease the dose heterogeneity, and minimizes normal tissue exposure caused by the surface irregularities of the chest wall mass. In the test case, The non bolus plan has a maximum target dose of 132%. After applying water bolus, the maximum target dose has been reduced substantially to 110.4%. The maximum target dose was reduced by 21.6% using this technique. Conclusion: The results showed that controlled water bolus could significantly improve the dose homogeneity in the PTV for patients treated with electron therapy using water control device. This technique may reduce the incidence of normal organ complications that occur after electron-beam therapy in irregular surface. And our new device shows handiness of water control.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.85-87
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• 2004

We fabricated flexible thermoradiotherapy probes to alternated combination with Interstitial hyperthermia and Brachyradiotherapy thermoradiotherapy probe was coated by gold plate on polyethylene brachytherapy probe. When Agar phantom was heated 15 minute with 30 W radiofrequency power, temperature increased as 5oC for polyethylene probe and 20oC for gold coated polyethylene probe. We observed that the 1 cm square array would heat a volume with a 1.25 cm radius circular field cross section to therapeutic temperatures (90% relative SAR using Tm) and the 2 cm square array with a 1.75 cm radius rectangular field with central inhomogeneity. With 2 cm long electrode implants, we observed that the 1 cm square array would heat a 3 cm long sagittal section to therapeutic temperature (90% relative SAR using Tm). The histopathological changes associated with RF heating of normal canine brains have been correlated with thermal distributions. RF needle electrode heating was applied for 50 min to generate tissue temperatures of 43${\circ}$C. We obtained a quarter of the heated tissue material immediately after heating and sacrificed at intervals from 7${\sim}$30 days. The acute stage was demonstrated by liquefactive necrosis, pyknosis of neuronal element in the gray matter. Mild gliosis occurring around the necrosis was demonstrated in the last sacrificed (days30)canine brain.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to confirm the exactitude of in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(NMRS) and to complement the defect of in vivo NMRS. It has been difficult to understand the metabolism of a cerebellum using in vivo NMRS owing to the generated inhomogeneity of magnetic fields (B0 and B1 field) by the complexity of the cerebellum structure. Thus, this study tried to more exactly analyze the metabolism of a canine cerebellum using the cell extraction and high resolution NMRS. In order to conduct the absolute metabolic quantification in a canine cerebellum, the spectrum of our phantom included in various brain metabolites (i.e., NAA, Cr, Cho, Ins, Lac, GABA, Glu, Gln, Tau and Ala) was obtained. The canine cerebellum tissue was extracted using the methanol-chloroform water extraction (M/C extraction) and one group was filtered and the other group was not under extract processing. Finally, NMRS of a phantom solution and two extract solution (90% D2O) was progressed using a 500MHz (11.4 T) NMR machine. Filtering a solution of the tissue extract increased the signal to noise ratio (SNR). The metabolic concentrations of a canine cerebellum were more close to rat’s metabolic concentration than human’s metabolic concentration. The present study demonstrates the absolute quantification technique in vitro high resolution NMRS with tissue extraction as the method to accurately measure metabolite concentration.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze the dose distribution when wedge filter is used in the various tissue electron density materials. The dose distribution was assessed that the enhanced dynamic wedge filter and physical wedge filter were used in the solid water phantom, cork phantom, and air cavity. The film dosimetry was suitable simple to measure 2D dose distribution. Therefore, the radiochromic films (Gafchromic EBT2, ISP, NJ, USA) were selected to measure and to analyze the dose distributions. A linear accelerator using 6 MV photon were irradiated to field size of $10{\times}10cm^2$ with 400 MUs. The dose distributions of EBT2 films were analyzed the in-field area and penumbra regions by using dose analysis program. In the dose distributions of wedge field, the dose from a physical wedge was higher than that from a dynamic wedge at the same electron density materials. A dose distributions of wedge type in the solid water phantom and the cork phantom were in agreements with 2%. However, the dose distribution in air cavity showed the large difference with those in the solid water phantom or cork phantom dose distributions. Dose distribution of wedge field in air cavity was not shown the wedge effect. The penumbra width, out of the field of thick and thin, was observed larger from 1 cm to 2 cm at the thick end. The penumbra of physical wedge filter was much larger average 6% than the dynamic wedge filter. If the physical wedge filter is used, the dose was increased to effect the scatter that interacted with photon and physical wedge. In the case of difference in electron like the soft tissue, lung, and air, the transmission, absorption, and scattering were changed in the medium at high energy photon. Therefore, the treatment at the difference electron density should be inhomogeneity correction in treatment planning system.