• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.333-336
• /
• 1991

High energy Photon beam has a sharp beam margin due to a less side scatter and the other things. But there still remains a penumbra where the dose changes rapidly in the region near the edge of a radiation beam, although it is short in width. It is suggested that the width of the penumbra depends on the source size, distance from source to diaphragm, source to skin distance, and depth in tissue. However, it is also supposed that the other factors influence the penumbra width. In this paper, we investigate changes of the physical penumbra widths according to various field sizes and depths, by using the three dimensional dosimetry system. As a result, we found that as field size and depth increase, the physical penumbra width also increases.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.88-93
• /
• 1998

Multileaf collimator is essential equipment in conformal radiation therapy, however the use is limitted by increase of penumbra width and undulating dose distribution at the field edge. The purpose of this study is to improve the penumbra and dose distribution in the multileaf collimator field edge. Measurement were performed with X-omat V film in solid water phantom using 6MV photon beam from Siemens linear accelerator. All the measurement were made along the central axis of $5{\times}5cm,\;10{\times}10cm$ circular field for constant SSD of 100 cm. To improve the penumbra and dose distribution collimator was rotated by 15 degrees from 0 to 90 degrees (collimator rotation method) and center was shifted to the longitudinal direction by fourth of lead width (center shift method). We compare the penumbra and dose distribution at the field edge to alloy block. Dose distribution and penumbra width at the feild edge of MLC showed undulated dose pattern and increased penumbra compared with alloy block. However, in the collimator rotation method and center shift method we abtained simular results with alloy block. Through the study we expected that clinical use of MLC will be increase.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.84-88
• /
• 1994

Proper evaluation about the penumbra is very important to improve the efficacy of radiation theraphy. There are two kinds of physical penumbra, geometric penumbra and transmission penumbra. In this study, we evaluated the variation of physical penumbra according to the varing enery level, changing the field size and depth. Physical penumbra width was decreased as the source size decreased, and as the SDD increased, but the consideration about the scatter radiation and mechanical stability is an important factor. For the two adjacent beams, upper collimator should be used and especially for Co-60 unit, it is efficient to use the extended collimator.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 1993

Proper evaluation about the penumbra is very important to improve the efficacy of radiation theraphy. There are two kinds of physical penumbra, geometric penumbra and transmission penumbra. In this study, we evaluated the variation of physical penumbra according to the varing energy level, changing the field size and depth. Physical penumbra width was decreased as the source size decreased, and as the SDD increased, but the consideration about the scatter radiation and mechanical stability is an important factor. For the two adjacent beams, upper collimator should be used and especially for Co-60 unit, it is efficient to use the extended collimator.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 1994

Multileaf Collimator is an essential tool for conformal therapy. We have measured the scallop penumbars of a poligon-shape field produced by Multileaf Collimator(MLC) with various leaf widths and the penumbra from conventional block, and compared the difference between them for the energy of photons, leaf widths, and angle of filed edges in order to find out the optimum leaf width. In addition, we have simulated a treatment of 20 factionations with errors of patient positioning. Optimum cost-benefit balanced leaf width is 8 mm.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.391-396
• /
• 1995

Purpose : The Conformal Radiation Therapy has bee widely used under favour of development of computer technologies. The delivery of a large number of static radiation fields are being necessary for the conformal irradiation. In this paper we investigate dosimetric characteristics on penumbra regions of a multileaf collimator(MLC), and compare to those of lead alloy block for the optimal use of the system in 3-D conformal radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : The measurement of penumbra by MLC or lead alloy block was performed with 6 or 10 MV X-rays. The film was positioned at a dmax depth and 10 cm depth, and its optical density was determined using a scanning videodensitometer. The effective penumbra, the distance from $80{\%}$ to $20{\%}$ isodose lines and $90{\%}$ to $10{\%}$ were analyzed as a function of the angle between the direction of leaf motion and the edge defined by leaves. Results : Increasing MLC angle ($0-75^{\circ}$) was observed with increasing the penumbra widths and the scalloping effect. There was no definite differences of penumbra width from $80{\%}$ to $20{\%}$ isodose lines, while being the small increase of penumbra width from $90{\%}$ to $10{\%}$ isodose line varing the depth and energy. The effective penumbra width of lead alloy block are agree resonably with those of MLC within 4.8mm. Conclusion : The comparative qualitative study of the penumbra between MLC and lead alloy block demonstrate the clinical acceptability and suitability of the multileaf collimator for 3-D conformal radiotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.333-338
• /
• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate the clinical implications of scallop penumbra width that comes from multileaf collimator(MLC) effect by the daily routine patient setup error. Materials and Methods : The anales of $0^{circ},{\;}15^{circ},{\;}30^{circ},{\;}45^{circ},{\;}60^{circ},{\;}and{\;}75^{circ}$ inclined -radiation blocked fields were generated using the both conventional cerrobend block and the MLC. Film dosimetry in the phantom were performed to measure penumbral widths of differences between the dose distributions from the cerrobend block and those of respect the MLC. The patient setup error effect on scallop penumbra was simulated with respect to the table of setup error distribution. Same procedures are repeated for the cerrobend block generated field. Results : There are penumbral widths of to 3mm difference between the dose distributioins from two kinds of field shaping tools, the conventional block and the MLC with 4mm setup error model and resolution of 1cm leaf at the isocenter. Conclusion : We need not additive margin for MLC, if planning target volume is selected according to the recommendation of ICRU 50. For particular cases, we can include the target volume with less than 3mm additive margin.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20%$) at the region of junction of fields. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}5%$) in these junction areas and to apply it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20 MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10\;cm$ field at 100cm of SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm acquires central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance according to the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduces the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced to approximately 0.2 MeV. These effects were almost Independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase(less than 3%) in the surface dose and a small increase(less than 1%) in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction at the point of penumbra width($35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$). We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be used to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applied to clinical practices.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.60-68
• /
• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20\%$) at the field junction area. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose homogeneities(${\pm}5\%$) in these junction areas and considered application it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10cm$ field at 100cm SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm, We acquired central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance as the thickness of the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduce the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced by approximately 0.2MeV. These effects were almost independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase $(less\;than\;3\%)\;in\;the\;surface\;dose\;and\;a\;small\;Increase(less\;than\;1\%)$ in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction, and penumbra width was $35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$. We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be use to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applicated in clinical practices.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 2004

A Siemens HD-270 MLC$^{TM}$, a virtual-micro MLC, allows to the application of a smooth field edge method due to the finite leaf-width of MLC. This technique was implemented into a Pinnacle planning system in order to evaluate the dose distributions during the planning stage. The necessary dosimetric aspects, such as undulation and effective penumbra, were investigated with variations in the resolutions of a virtual-micro MLC and field edge angle. The positional accuracy of the couch movement was also assessed for clinical implementation. The overhead time for planning and treatment was confirmed as negligible.e.