Earticle

Background: Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is the most accurate for calculating radiation dose distribution and determining patient dose. In MC simulations of the therapeutic accelerator, the characteristics of the initial electron must be precisely determined in order to achieve accurate simulations. However, It has been computation-, labor-, and time-intensive to predict the beam characteristics through predominantly empirical approach. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between electron beam parameters and dose distribution, with the goal of simplifying the MC commissioning process. Materials and Methods: The Varian Clinac 2300 IX machine was modeled with the Geant4 MC-toolkit. The percent depth dose (PDD) and lateral beam profiles were assessed according to initial electron beam parameters of mean energy, radial intensity distribution, and energy distribution. Results and Discussion: The PDD values increased on average by 4.36% when the mean energy increased from 5.6 MeV to 6.4 MeV. The PDD was also increased by 2.77% when the energy spread increased from 0 MeV to 1.019 MeV. In the lateral dose profile, increasing the beam radial width from 0 mm to 4 mm at the full width at half maximum resulted in a dose decrease of 8.42% on the average. The profile also decreased by 4.81% when the mean energy was increased from 5.6 MeV to 6.4 MeV. Of all tested parameters, electron mean energy had the greatest influence on dose distribution. The PDD and profile were calculated using parameters optimized and compared with the golden beam data. The maximum dose difference was assessed as less than 2%. Conclusion: The relationship between the initial electron and treatment beam quality investigated in this study can be used in Monte Carlo commissioning of medical linear accelerator model.

We examined the accuracy and efficiency of phantom by applying the designed phantom in order to check daily quality assurance easily by objective criteria and to confirm daily quality assurance of linear accelerator, simulator, and CT-simulator. The results of 10 weeks of linear accelerator output dose using American Association of Physicists in Medicine(AAPM) daily quality assurance guide were measured within ±1% of error. Mechanical check of laser alignment, optical distance indicator(ODI), CT scanner laser and alignment of gantry lasers with the center of imaging plane were measured within ±1mm. Daily average working time for daily quality assurance of radiation therapy equipments was 38 minutes. The designed phantom was easy to install and daily quality assurance was possible with only one installation. The aspects reproducibility and efficiency as well as accuracy of quality assurance were excellent.

Ionization chambers often exhibit a stem effect, caused by interactions of radiation with air near the chamber end, or with dielectric in the chamber stem or cable. In this study measured stem effect correction factor for length of ionization chamber from medical linear accelerator recommend to with the use of stem correction method. For a model of the Farmer-type chamber, were used to calculate the beam quality correction factor. These interactions contribute to the apparent measured exposure. Additionally, it needs to consider ionization chamber use of small volume and stem effect of cable by a large field. Linear accelerator generated photons energy and increased dose repeatedly measured by using stem correction method. Stem effect was dependence of the energy and increases with photon energy conditions improved of beam quality. In conclusion, stem effect correction factor was measured within 0.4% calculated according to the exposures stem length and also supposed to determined below 1% of another stem correction method.

연구배경: 세기조절방사선치료와 같이 고선량을 암조직에 정밀하게 전달할 수 있는 방사선 치료기술이 개발됨에 따라, 보다 정확한 선량평가 기술의 개발이 요구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 선형가속기에서 발생된 광자선의 물질투과율 정보를 통해 간접유도방식으로 에너지스펙트럼을 예측할 수 있는 기술의 개발을 목적으로 한다. 재료 및 방법: 의료용 선형가속기를 사용한 측정과 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 감쇠물질의 두께에 따른 X-선의 투과율이 평가되었으며, 이와 더불어 단일에너지에 의한 이온함의 반응함수가 결정되었다. 최종적으로 Unfolding 방법을 사용하는 HEOROW 프로그램을 통해 고선량률의 치료용 선형가속기에서 발생된 광자선의 에너지스펙트럼이 유도되었다. 본 연구에서 실험을 위해 Elekta Synergy Flatform 선형가속기가 사용되었으며, 몬테칼로 방법을 사용하는 Geant4 전산모사 프로그램이 사용되었다. 결과 및 논의: 감쇠물질의 두께에 따른 X-선 투과율과 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 계산된 X-선 투과율의 비교 결과 0.43%의 평균제곱근오차가 확인된다. 물질투과정보를 통해 간접적으로 유도된 에너지스펙트럼은 몬테칼로 전산모사를 통해 직접적으로 계산된 에너지스펙트럼과 비교분석 되었으며, 피크위치 및 평균에너지의 오차가 각각 0.066 MeV와 0.03 MeV로 평가되었다. 하지만 보다 정확한 에너지스펙트럼을 예측하기 위해서는 다양한 감쇠물질의 사용과 에너지스펙트럼 유도프로그램의 정밀도 향상을 위한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 확인된 물질투과율 기반의 에너지스펙트럼 측정 기술은 에너지가 높고 선량률이 높기 때문에 광자선을 직접적으로 측정하는 것이 제한적인 의료용 선형가속기에 적용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Background:　For the accurate dose assessment in radiation therapy, energy spectrum of the photon beam generated from the linac head is essential. The aim of this study is to develop the technique to accurately unfolding the energy spectrum with the transmission analysis method. Materials and Methods: Clinical linear accelerator and Monet Carlo method was employed to evaluate the transmission signals according to the thickness of the observer material, and then the response function of the ion chamber response was determined with the mono energy beam. Finally the energy spectrum was unfolded with HEPROW program. Elekta Synergy Flatform and Geant4 tool kits was used in this study. Results and Discussion: In the comparison between calculated and measured transmission signals using aluminum alloy as an attenuator, root mean squared error was 0.43%. In the comparison between unfolded spectrum using HEPROW program and calculated spectrum using Geant4, the difference of peak and mean energy were 0.066 and 0.03 MeV, respectively. However, for the accurate prediction of the energy spectrum, additional experiment with various type of material and improvement of the unfolding program is required. Conclusion: In this research, it is demonstrated that unfolding spectra technique could be used in megavoltage photon beam with aluminum alloy and HEPROW program.

A modified irradiation technique utilizing a linear accelerator for radiation surgery within the brain was performed in 41 cases of patients with anteriovenous malformation(AVM), astrocytoma, meningioma. etc. The treatment planning and dosimetry of small field for stereotactic radiosurgery with 10 MV X-ray isocentically mounted linear accelerator will be presented dose with field size, the central axis persent depth dose and the combined moving beam dose distribution. The three dimensional dose planning of stereotactic focusing irradiation on small size tumor region was perfomed with dose planning computer system(Therac 2300) and was verified with film dosimetry. The more the number of strip and the wider the angle of arc rotation, the larger were the dose delivered on tumor and the less the dose to surrounding the normal tissues. In this study, the using machine and method was as fellowing. 1) Apparatus : NELAC-1018 10MV X-ray 2) Strip No. : Select the 5-7 strips 3) Cone and field size are from $1{\times}1cm^2$ to $3.5{\times}3.5cm^2$, and special circular cone designed for the purpose of minimized the risk to normal tissue and those size are $0.7{\~}3.6cm{\phi}$.

Background: Despite advances in radiotherapy, overall survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients is still poor. Moreover dosimetrical analyses with these newer treatment methods are insufficient. The current study is aimed to compare intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) linear accelerator (linac) and helical tomotherapy (HT) treatment plans for patients with prognostic aggressive brain tumors. Material and Methods: A total of 20 GBM patient plans were prospectively evaluated in both linac and HT planning systems. Plans are compared with respect to homogenity index, conformity index and organs at risk (OAR) sparing effects of the treatments. Results: Both treatment plans provided good results that can be applied to GBM patients but it was concluded that if the critical organs with relatively lower dose constraints are closer to the target region, HT for radiotherapeutical application could be preferred. Conclusion: Tomotherapy plans were superior to linear accelerator plans from the aspect of OAR sparing with slightly broader low dose ranges over the healthy tissues. In case a clinic has both of these IMRT systems, employment of HT is recommended based on the observed results and future re-irradiation strategies must be considered.