• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

Purpose: Long Extension (LE) is used in proton therapy for lung and abdomen. However, it has limitations in surface area, produces collision in posterior oblique beam which creates limitations in various gantry angles in planning therapy and increases air gap (distance between patient and compensator). Therefore, this study investigates the usability of manufactured Rounded Extension (RE) in comparison to LE to use the most suitable extension in proton therapy. Materials and Methods: To compare structural features of LE and RE. This study investigated usable gantry angle for snout sizes 100, 180 and 250 and CT scanned Humanoid phantom. And it compared the air gap in posterior oblique direction. Results: The structural features of two extensions are as follow. Because of the existence of supporting bar, the width of LE was 40 cm and RE was 50 cm. Result of the investigation of usable gantry angle for snout sizes 100, 180 and 250 are as follow. LE is ${\pm}36$ (average) at 180 degree and RE is ${\pm}70$ (average). And also, the air gap of RE is decreased by 11.3 cm in average at the same gantry angle. Conclusion: Manufactured RE for proton therapy has several benefits than LE. Its therapy surface area is wider and range of usable gantry angle is also wider. Also, the air gap at the posterior oblique beam has decreased. Therefore the usability of RE in proton therapy of lung and abdomen will be increased compared to LE. However, the air gap of proton therapy at the lateral direction may be increased, so there may be need for make up to decrease air gap at the lateral direction in the future.