• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.87-98
• /
• 1989

Clinical estimation of bladder and rectal doses from high dose rate intracavitary irradiation in carcinoma of the cervix uteri has been initiated on a routine basis in an effort to obtain the optimum radiotherapeutic dose. Simulation films with contrast media are used to image the bladder and rectum, and dose rates are estimated at various interesting points with the aid of treatment planning computer, NEC Therac-2300. Fifty-three patients have been reviewed in order to ascertain the correlation between radiation dose at interesting points in the bladder and rectum and the dose at Point A and B. The dose ratio between doses at Point A 'and interesting points is an important clinical factor in evaluating the treatment planning. This also serves as documentation of the dose to normal structures within the treatment volume. Authors conclude that obtained data are within acceptable ranges and routine simulation films of the bladder and rectum after administration of contrast media with dose calculations at interesting points provide important information for optimizing radiotherapy planning in the treatment of cervical carcinoma without increased time and effort or patient's discomfort.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.53-53
• /
• 2003

For evaluating the feasibility of treating recurrent lesions in the vaginal cuff and cervix by hyperthermia, ultrasound applicators were designed, constructed, and characterized. For the treatment A half-cylindrical transducer Cd=1cm, length=lcm) and cylindrical transducer (d=2.5cm, length= 1.5cm) were used to construct ovoid type and cylindrical applicators. For the ovoid type applicator, each element was operated at 1.5MHz and characterized by measuring transducer efficiency and acoustic power distribution. Thermocouple probes were used to measure the temperature rise in phantom. The element sizes used in this study were selected to be comparable for high dose rate brachytherapy colpostat applicator. Each element was powered separately to achieve a desired temperature pattern in a target. The acoustic output power as a function of applied electric power of the element 1 and 2 was linear over this 1 to 40 W range and efficiencies were 32.2${\pm}$3.4% and 46.2${\pm}$0.8%, respectively. The temperature measurements in phantom showed that 6$^{\circ}C$ temperature rise was achieved at 2 cm from the applicator surface. As a conclusion, the ability of the ultrasound colpostat applicator to be used for hyperthermia was demonstrated by measuring acoustic output power, ultrasound field distribution, and temperature rise in phantom. Based on the characteristics of this applicator, it has the potential to be useful for inducing hyperthermnia to the vaginal cuff in clinic.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.147-151
• /
• 1988

Esophageal cancers are highly malignant neoplasms. Prognosis of esophageal cancer treated by external irradiation alone is rather poor because of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Recently intracavitary irradiation has been used as a boost therapy after external irradation to optain better local control. One case of esophageal cancer has been treated by high dose rate remote-controlled afterloading unit as boost therapy after external irradiation. The result was excellent in short term follow up esophagogram but esophageal bleeding and esophagotracheal fistula were noted in further follow up examination after inappropriate posttreatment management including insufficient chemotherapy due to poor general condition. We reviewed possible causes of esophageal bleeding and esophagotracheal fistula after external irradiation and high dose rate ICR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6251-6255
• /
• 2012

Radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis are major complications for patients with cervical carcinoma following radiotherapy. In the present study, we aimed to determine the potential risk factors for the development of radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis after irradiation. A total of 1,518 patients with cervical carcinoma received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) followed by high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDRICB) in our hospital. The incidences of radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis were recorded and associations with different factors (age, time period, tumor stage) were analyzed with ${\chi}^2$ (chi-squared) and Fisher exact tests. We found that 161 and 94 patients with cervical carcinoma were diagnosed with radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis, respectively, following radiotherapy. The prevalence of Grade I-II radiation proctitis or radiation cystitis was significantly lower than that of Grade III (radiation proctitis: 3.82% vs. 6.76%, P < 0.05; radiation cystitis: 2.31% vs. 3.87%, P < 0.05) and was significantly enhanced in patients with late stage (IIIb) tumor progression compared to those in early stage (Ib, IIa) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of radiation proctitis and cystitis was not correlated with age or, time period following radiation, for each patient (P > 0.05). These observations indicate that a late stage of tumor progression is a potential risk factor for the incidence of radiation proctitis and cystitis in cervical carcinoma patients receiving radiotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 1984

In brachytherapy, it is important to determine the positions of the radiation sources which are inserted into a patient and to estimate the dose resulting from the treatment. Calculation of the dose distribution throughout an implant is so laborious that it is rarely done by manual methods except for model cases. It is possible to calculate isodose distributions and tumor doses for individual patients by the use of a microcomputer. In this program, the dose rate and dose distributions are calculated by numerical integration of point source and the localization of radiation sources are obtained from two radiographs at right angles taken by a simulator developed for the treatment planning. By using microcomputer for brachytherapy, we obtained the result as following 1. Dose calculation and irradiation time for tumor could be calculated under one or five seconds after input data. 2. It was same value under$\pm2\%$ error between dose calculation by computer program and measurement dose. 3. It took about five minutes to reconstruct completely dose distribution for intracavitary irradiation. 4. Calculating by computer made remarkly reduction of dose errors compared with Quimby's calculation in interstitial radiation implantation. 5. It could calculate the biological isoffect dose for high and low dose rate activities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.170-175
• /
• 1989

Eleven cases of pulmonary resection had been performed for pulmonary aspergilloma in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University from August 1984 to July 1988. The patients were consisted of six males and five females and were evenly distributed from third decade to sixth decade. Hemoptysis was usually presenting symptom [72.2%] and the variable was the interval between symptom onset to surgical resection, which was ranged from few months to several years In the plane chest films, intracavitary fungus balls were noted in five cases [5/11] and upper lobe involvements were seven cases [7/11]. Aspergillus fumigatus was identified preoperatively in three cases among the eight cases of sputum culture. Mean preoperative FVC and FEV 1.0 values were in normal range. Eleven pulmonary resections were done by eight lobectomies, two segmentectomies and one pneumonectomy. The lesion was superimposed upon old tuberculosis in eight patients, in one upon bronchiectasis and in two upon tuberculous bronchiectasis. Five complications appeared postoperatively which included ARDS [1 case] bleeding [2 cases], persistent air leak[1 case], and dead space [1 case].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1011-1018
• /
• 1991

From September, 1985 to March, 1991, 33 patients under went thoracotomy for treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma with Pulmonary tuberculosis on the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, National Kongju Hospital. 1. There were 25 male and 8 female patients ranging from 19 to 57 years old [mean age, 36.2 years]. 2. Hemoptysis was the most common symptom [recurrent minor hemoptysis: 24cases, severe hemoptysis [200cc /day]: 4 cases, massive hemoptysis [600/day]: 4 cases]. 3. In the chest X-ray films, intracavitary fungus balls [air meniscus sign] were noted in 20 cases [61%] and upper lobe involvements were 29 cases [88%]. 4. All cases had a history of treatment with antituberculosis drugs under diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for an average of 10 years and 2 months. 5. The most common indication for operation was hemoptysis [32 cases] - hemoptysis with total destroyed lung or lobe: 12cases, hemoptysis with open AFB [t-] cavity: 6cases, recurrent or massive hemoptysis: 14 cases. 6. The operative procedures was as follows - - - lobectomy . 16 cases, pneumonectomy: 8 cases, bilobectomy, segmentectomy, cavernoplasty and lobectomy with segmentectomy: each 2 cases, lobectomy with cavernoplasty: 1 case. 7. 6 complications appeared postoperatively which included empyema with BPF [2 cases], empyema [2 cases] and wound infection [2 cases]. In conclusion, surgical resection is the treatment of choice in the management of pulmonary aspergilloma associated pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.32-39
• /
• 2000

Purpose :The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix is low. Traditionally, Low Dose Rate (LDR) brachytherapy has been used as a standard modality in the treatment for patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effects of the High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in the patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix compared with the LDR. : From January 1971 to December 1992, 106 patients of adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix were treated with radiation therapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University with curative intent. LDR brachytherapy was carried out on 35 patients and 71 patients were treated with HDR brachytherapy. In LDR Group, 8 patients were in stage I, 18 in stage II and 9 in stage III. External radiation therapy was delivered with 10 MV X-ray, daily 2 Gy fractionation, total dose 40$\~$46Gy (median 48 Gy). And LDR Radium intracavitary irradiation was peformed with Henschke applicator, 22$\~$59 Gy to point A (median 43 Gy). In HDR Group, there were 16 patients in stage 1, 38 in stage II and 17 in stage III. The total dose of external radiation was 40$\~$61 Gy(median 45 Gy), daily 1.8$\~$2.0 Gy. HDR Co-60 intracavitary irradiation was peformed with RALS (Remote Afterloading System), 30 $\~$ 57 Gy(median 39 Gy) to point A, 3 times a week, 3 Gy per fraction. Conclusion : The 5-year overall survival rate in LDR Group was 72.9$\%$, 61.9$\%$, 45.0$\%$ in stage I, II, III, respectively and corresponding figures for HDR were 87.1$\%$, 58.3$\%$, 41.2$\%$, respectively (p>0.05). There was no statistical difference in terms of the 5-year overall survival rate between HDR Group and LDR Group in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. There was 11$\%$ of late complication rates in LDR Group and 27$\%$ in HDR Group. There were no prognostic factors compared HDR with LDR group. The incidence of the late complication rate in HDR Group stage II, III was higher than that in LDR Group(16.7$\%$ vs. 31.6$\%$ in stage II, 11.1$\%$ vs. 35.3$\%$ In stage III, p>0.05). Although the incidence of radiation induced late complication rate was higher in HDR Group stage II and III patients than that in the LDR Group, statistical significance was not detected and within acceptable level. Conclusion : There was no difference in terms of 5-year survival rate and failure pattern in the patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with HDR and LDR brachytherapy. Even late complication rates were higher in the HDR group It was an acceptable range. This retrospective study suggests that HDR brachytherapy seems to replace the LDR brachytherapy in the adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. However, further studies will be required to refine the dose rate effects.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2013

Purpose: To describe chronic rectal mucosal damage after pelvic radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer and correlate these findings with clinical symptoms and radiation dose. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients who underwent pelvic RT were diagnosed with radiation-induced proctitis based on endoscopy findings. The median follow-up period was 35 months after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and intracavitary radiotherapy (ICR). The Vienna Rectoscopy Score (VRS) was used to describe the endoscopic findings and compared to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) morbidity score and the dosimetric parameters of RT (the ratio of rectal dose calculated at the rectal point [RP] to the prescribed dose, biologically effective dose [BED] at the RP in the ICR and EBRT plans, ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ = 3). Results: Rectal symptoms were noted in 28 patients (rectal bleeding in 21 patients, bowel habit changes in 6, mucosal stools in 1), and 4 patients had no symptoms. Endoscopic findings included telangiectasia in 18 patients, congested mucosa in 20, ulceration in 5, and stricture in 1. The RP ratio, $BED_{ICR}$, $BED_{ICR+EBRT}$ was significantly associated with the VRS (RP ratio, median 76.5%; $BED_{ICR}$, median 37.1 $Gy_3$; $BED_{ICR+EBRT}$, median 102.5 $Gy_3$; p < 0.001). The VRS was significantly associated with the EORTC/RTOG score (p = 0.038). Conclusion: The most prevalent endoscopic findings of RT-induced proctitis were telangiectasia and congested mucosa. The VRS was significantly associated with the EORTC/RTOG score and RP radiation dose.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4835-4837
• /
• 2012

Objectives: To evaluate residual disease in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with teletherapy using combined high dose rate Cobalt-60 brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of uterine cervical cancer patients, FIGO stages IB-IVB (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recommendations), treated by radiotherapy alone between April 1986 and December 1988 was conducted and the outcomes analysed. The patients were treated using teletherapy 50 Gy/25 fractions, five fractions per week to the whole pelvis together with HDR Cobalt -60 afterloading brachytherapy of 850 cGy/fraction, weekly to point A for 2 fractions. Results: The study covered 141 patients with uterine cervical cancer. The mean age was 50.0 years with a range of 30-78 years. The mean tumor size was 4.1 cm in diameter (range 1-8 cm). Mean follow - up time was 2.94 years (range 1 month-6.92 years). The overall incidence of residual locoregional disease was 3.5%. Residual disease, according to stage IIB, IIIB and IVA was present in 2.78%, 3.37% and 50.0%. It was noted that there was no evidence of residual disease in stage IB and IIA cases. Conclusion: Combined teletherapy along with high dose rate Cobalt -60 brachytherapy of 850 cGy/fraction, weekly to point A for 2 fractions resulted in overall 3.5% residual disease and a 96.5% complete response. The proposed recommendation for improving outcome is initiation of measurements for early detection of disease.