• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2734-2741
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• 2023

Brachytherapy is a special case of radiotherapy. It should be arranged according to some principles in medical radiation applications and radiation physics. The primary principle is to use as low as reasonably achievable dose in all ionizing radiation applications for diagnostic and therapeutic treatments. Dosimetric distributions are dependent on radioactive source properties and radiation-matter interactions in an absorber medium such as phantom or tissue. In this consideration, the geometrical structure and material of the seed capsule, which surrounds a radioactive material, are directly responsible for isodose profiles and dosimetric functions. In this study, the radiometric properties of capsule material were investigated on dose distribution in a water phantom by changing its nuclear properties using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo (MC) simulation code. Effective atomic numbers of hypothetic mixtures were calculated by using different elements with several fractions for capsule material. Model 6711 brachytherapy seed was modeled by EGSnrc/Dosrcnrc Code and dosimetric functions were calculated. As a result, dosimetric parameters of hypothetic sources have been acquired in large-scale atomic number. Dosimetric deviations between the data of hypothetic seeds and the original one were analyzed. Unit dose (Gy/Particle) distributions belonging to different types of material in seed capsule have remarkably differed from the original capsule's data. Capsule type is major variable to manage the expected dose profile and isodose distribution around a seed. This study shows us systematically varied scale of material type (cross section or effective atomic number dependent) offers selective material usage in production of seed capsules for the expected isodose profile of a specific source.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2018

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is a new treatment delivery technique that decreases overall treatment time by using higher fractional doses than conventional fractionation. Here, a quantitative analysis study of CyberKnife-based APBI was performed on 10 patients with left-sided breast cancer who had already finished conventional treatment at the Inha University Hospital. Dosimetric parameters for four kinds of treatment plans (3D-CRT, IMRT, VMAT, and CyberKnife) were analyzed and compared with constraints in the NSABP B39/RTOG 0413 protocol and a published CyberKnife-based APBI study. For the 10 patients recruited in this study, all the dosimetric parameters, including target coverage and doses to normal structures, met the NSABP B39/RTOG 0413 protocol. Compared with other treatment plans, a more conformal dose to the target and better dose sparing of critical structures were observed in CyberKnife plans. Accelerated partial breast irradiation via CyberKnife is a suitable treatment delivery technique for partial breast irradiation and offers improvements over external beam APBI techniques.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2015

Purpose: To compare volumetric modulated arc therapy of RapidArc with robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of CyberKnife in the planning and delivery of SBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment by analyzing dosimetric parameters. Materials and Methods: Two radiation treatment plans were generated for 29 HCC patients, one using Eclipse for the RapidArc plan and the other using Multiplan for the CyberKnife plan. The prescription dose was 60 Gy in 3 fractions. The dosimetric parameters of planning target volume (PTV) coverage and normal tissue sparing in the RapidArc and the CyberKnife plans were analyzed. Results: The conformity index was $1.05{\pm}0.02$ for the CyberKnife plan, and $1.13{\pm}0.10$ for the RapidArc plan. The homogeneity index was $1.23{\pm}0.01$ for the CyberKnife plan, and $1.10{\pm}0.03$ for the RapidArc plan. For the normal liver, there were significant differences between the two plans in the low-dose regions of $V_1$ and $V_3$. The normalized volumes of $V_{60}$ for the normal liver in the RapidArc plan were drastically increased when the mean dose of the PTVs in RapidArc plan is equivalent to the mean dose of the PTVs in the CyberKnife plan. Conclusion: CyberKnife plans show greater dose conformity, especially in small-sized tumors, while RapidArc plans show good dosimetric distribution of low dose sparing in the normal liver and body.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.179-188
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• 2020

Purpose: We compared noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (ncVMAT) plans to coplanar VMAT (cVMAT) plans by evaluating the dosimetric quality of each for esophageal cancer. Methods: Twenty patients treated for esophageal cancer with the cVMAT technique were retrospectively selected. The cVMAT plans consisted of three coplanar full arc beams. The ncVMAT plans consisted of two coplanar full arc beams and one noncoplanar partial arc beam ranging from 45° to 315° with a couch rotation angle of 315°±5°. For dosimetric evaluation, the dose-volumetric (DV) parameters of the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were calculated for all VMAT plans. Results: No clinically noticeable differences between the cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were observed in the DV parameters of the PTV. For the lungs, the V_{13 Gy} and mean dose for ncVMAT plans were smaller than those for cVMAT plans, showing statistically significant differences. For the heart, the values of the maximum dose for cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were 53.8±2.9 and 50.9±3.3 Gy, respectively (P=0.004). For the spinal cord, the values of the maximum dose for cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were 37.1±5.1 and 34.7±5.7 Gy, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions: The use of ncVMAT plans provides better PTV coverage and sparing of OARs compared to that of cVMAT plans for long, tube-like esophageal cancer. For esophageal cancer, the ncVMAT plans showed a more favorable plan quality than the cVMAT plans.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.385-392
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• 1997

The shape of TL glow curve is a useful indicator for assurance of correct reading of the personal dosimeter. Since the reading procedure of TLD is irreversible, however, an analytic remedy should be considered to procure reliable dosimetric information for the readings with irregular glow con shape. In this study, kinetic trapping parameters of CaSO$_4$ : Dy Teflon personal dosimeter(Teledyne PB-6A) were analyzed by Halperin and Braner's model for general-order kinetics. From these kinetic tapping parameters, we also developed a simple procedure to retrieve the dosimetric information from abnormally distorted glow curves. The computerized glow curve deconvolution(CGCD) fitting of the reference glow curve with kinetic parameters from this study yields relative errors of about 5% from the expected integral. It was also found that the glow curve remedial procedure developed could retrieve the distorted TL glow curves within ewer ranges of 1575. With the glow curve retrieval techniques, doses incurred by gamma radiation can now be successfully re-constructed for the CaSO$_4$ : Dy Teflon dosimeter resulting abnormal glow curves.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the diverse characteristics of a novel commercial bolus, CLEANBOLUS-WHITE (CBW), to ascertain its suitability for clinical application. Methods: The evaluation of CBW encompassed both physical and biological assessments. Physical parameters such as mass density and shore hardness were measured alongside analyses of element composition. Biological evaluations included assessments for skin irritation and cytotoxicity. Dosimetric properties were examined by calculating surface dose and beam quality using a treatment planning system (TPS). Additionally, doses were measured at maximum and reference depths, and the results were compared with those obtained using a solid water phantom. The effect of air gap on dose measurement was also investigated by comparing measured doses on the RANDO phantom, under the bolus, with doses calculated from the TPS. Results: Biological evaluation confirmed that CBW is non-cytotoxic, nonirritant, and non-sensitizing. The bolus exhibited a mass density of 1.02 g/cm³ and 14 shore 00. Dosimetric evaluations revealed that using the 0.5 cm CBW resulted in less than a 1% difference compared to using the solid water phantom. Furthermore, beam quality calculations in the TPS indicated increased surface dose with the bolus. The air gap effect on dose measurement was deemed negligible, with a difference of approximately 1% between calculated and measured doses, aligning with measurement uncertainty. Conclusions: CBW demonstrates outstanding properties for clinical utilization. The dosimetric evaluation underscores a strong agreement between calculated and measured doses, validating its reliability in both planning and clinical settings.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of changes in beam arrangement and arc counts on dosimetric factors in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) inverse radiation therapy planning for hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation therapy (HA-WBRT) by using the Elekta Monaco radiation therapy planning system (RTPs). For coplanar VMAT, both the arc per beam (APB) method and the beam determined arc(BDA) method, which is determined by the number of beams, were applied. For non-coplanar VMAT, the BDA method was utilized, and a total of 9 treatment plans were established by varying the arc counts. All radiation therapy plans met the radiation oncology group (RTOG) 0933 protocol standards, and 14 dosimetric factors were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the BDA-NC VMAT method demonstrated superior performance in terms of planning target volume (PTV) coverage and protection of normal organs, while APB-VMAT was advantageous in terms of hippocampal protection, monitor unit and delivery time. This study is expected to contribute to the efficient establishment of HA-WBRT plans considering the changes in beam arrangement and rotation arc numbers in Monaco RTPs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2018

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze dosimetric parameters of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) delivered to extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the stomach (gastric MALT lymphoma) to find out advantages of VMAT and conditions for definite benefits of VMAT. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with stage I-II gastric MALT lymphoma received VMAT (n = 14) or 3D-CRT (n = 36) between December 2005 and April 2018. Twenty-seven patients were categorized according to whether the planning target volume (PTV) overlaps kidney(s). Dosimetric parameters were analyzed by dose-volume histogram. Results: Radiation dose to the liver was definitely lower with VMAT in terms of mean dose (p = 0.026) and V₁₅ (p = 0.008). The V₁₅ of the left kidney was lower with VMAT (p = 0.065). For those with PTV overlapping kidney(s), the left kidney V₁₅ was significantly lower with VMAT. Furthermore, the closer the distance between the PTV and kidneys, the less the left kidney V₁₅ with VMAT (p = 0.037). Delineation of kidney(s) by integrating all respiratory phases had no additional benefit. Conclusions: VMAT significantly increased monitor units, reduced treatment time and radiation dose to the liver and kidneys. The benefit of VMAT was definite in reducing the left kidney V₁₅, especially in geometrically challenging conditions of overlap or close separation between PTV and kidney(s).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2516-2523
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• 2024

This study aims to validate the dosimetric characteristics of Low Dose Rate (LDR) I-125 source Geant4-based Monte Carlo code. According to the recommendation of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) task group report (TG-43), the dosimetric parameters of a new brachytherapy source should be verified either experimentally or theoretically before clinical procedures. The simulation studies are very important since this procedure delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor with only a minimal dose affecting the surrounding tissues. GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit associated brachytherapy example was modified, adapted and several updated techniques have been developed to facilitate and smooth radiotherapy techniques. The great concordance of the current study results with the consensus data and with the results of other MC based studies is promising. It implies that Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation has the potential to be used as a reliable and standard simulation code in the field of brachytherapy for verification and treatment planning purposes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4223-4228
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and dosimetric factors associated with acute esophagitis (AE) in lung cancer patients treated with conformal radiotherapy (RT) in Turkey. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective review 104 lung cancer patients were examined. Esophagitis grades were verified weekly during treatment, and at 1 week, and 1 and 2 months afterwards. The clinical parameters included patient age, gender, tumor pathology, number of chemotherapy treatments before RT, concurrent chemotherapy, radiation dose, tumor response to RT, tumor localization, interruption of RT, weight loss, tumor and nodal stage and tumor volume. The following dosimetric parameters were analyzed for correlation of AE: The maximum ($D_{max}$) and mean ($D_{mean}$) doses delivered to the esophagus, the percentage of esophagus volume receiving ${\geq}10$ Gy ($V_{10}$), ${\geq}20$ Gy ($V_{20}$), ${\geq}30$ Gy ($V_{30}$), ${\geq}35$ Gy ($V_{35}$), ${\geq}40$ Gy ($V_{40}$), ${\geq}45$ Gy ($V_{45}$), ${\geq}50$ Gy ($V_{50}$) and ${\geq}60$ Gy ($V_{60}$). Results: Fifty-five patients (52.9%) developed AE. Maximum grades of AE were recorded: Grade 1 in 51 patients (49%), and Grade 2 in 4 patients (3.8%). Clinical factors had no statistically significant influence on the incidence of AE. In terms of dosimetric findings, correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between AE and $D_{max}$ (>5117 cGy), $D_{mean}$ (>1487 cGy) and $V_{10-60}$ (percentage of volume receiving >10 to 60 Gy). The most significant relationship between RT and esophagitis were in $D_{max}$ (>5117 cGy) (p=0.002) and percentage of esophageal volume receiving >30 Gy ($V_{30}$ >31%) (p=0.008) in the logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The maximum dose esophagus greater than 5117 cGy and approximately one third (31%) of the esophageal volume receiving >30 Gy was the most statistically significant predictive factor associated with esophagitis due to RT.