Earticle

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare clinical outcomes and treatment-related toxicities after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with two different dose regimens for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) ${\leq}3cm$ in size. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 44 patients with liver-confined HCC treated between 2009 and 2014 with SBRT. Total doses of 45 Gy (n = 10) or 60 Gy (n = 34) in 3 fractions were prescribed to the 95% isodose line covering 95% of the planning target volume. Rates of local control (LC), intrahepatic failure-free survival (IHFFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Median follow-up was 29 months (range, 8 to 64 months). Rates at 1 and 3 years were 97.7% and 95.0% for LC, 97.7% and 80.7% for OS, 76% and 40.5% for IHFFS, and 87.3% and 79.5% for DMFS. Five patients (11.4%) experienced degradation of albumin-bilirubin grade, 2 (4.5%) degradation of Child-Pugh score, and 4 (9.1%) grade 3 or greater laboratory abnormalities within 3 months after SBRT. No significant difference was seen in any oncological outcomes or treatment-related toxicities between the two dose regimens. Conclusions: SBRT was highly effective for local control without severe toxicities in patients with HCC smaller than 3 cm. The regimen of a total dose of 45 Gy in 3 fractions was comparable to 60 Gy in efficacy and safety of SBRT for small HCC.

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe the proton therapy system at Samsung Medical Center (SMC-PTS) including the proton beam generator, irradiation system, patient positioning system, patient position verification system, respiratory gating system, and operating and safety control system, and review the current status of the SMC-PTS. Materials and Methods: The SMC-PTS has a cyclotron (230 MeV) and two treatment rooms: one treatment room is equipped with a multi-purpose nozzle and the other treatment room is equipped with a dedicated pencil beam scanning nozzle. The proton beam generator including the cyclotron and the energy selection system can lower the energy of protons down to 70 MeV from the maximum 230 MeV. Results: The multi-purpose nozzle can deliver both wobbling proton beam and active scanning proton beam, and a multi-leaf collimator has been installed in the downstream of the nozzle. The dedicated scanning nozzle can deliver active scanning proton beam with a helium gas filled pipe minimizing unnecessary interactions with the air in the beam path. The equipment was provided by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., RayStation from RaySearch Laboratories AB is the selected treatment planning system, and data management will be handled by the MOSAIQ system from Elekta AB. Conclusion: The SMC-PTS located in Seoul, Korea, is scheduled to begin treating cancer patients in 2015.

초고압 전산화단층촬영(megavoltage computed tomography, MVCT)이 단층치료(Tomotherapy) 환자의 치료 자세 교정 방법으로 사용되고 있다. MVCT는 부가적인 방사선 피폭뿐만 아니라 전체 치료 시간이 길어지는 단점을 가지고 있다. 이러한 문제점 해결을 위해 비디오 영상기반 환자 치료 자세 교정 시스템(video image-guided setup system, VIGS)을 개발했다. 단층치료 장치내 갠트리에 직각으로 2대의 비디오 카메라를 장착하고 이로부터 얻은 영상을 이용하여 환자의 자세 오차를 측정하는 프로그램을 자체 개발했다. 개발된 시스템은 사용자에 의해 정의된 관심 영역에서의 에지 검출(edge detection) 결과를 기반으로 자동 정합을 통해 자세 오차를 찾도록 고안되었다. 두경부 환자를 묘사하기 위해 휴먼 팬톰을 이용하여 컴퓨터 단층 치료계획 영상을 획득한 후 전산화 치료계획을 수행했다. 실제 치료 상태를 재현하기 위해 고정 용구를 이용하여 팬톰을 고정했으며 전산화치료계획 결과로 부터 팬톰 자세 검증을 위한 기준 MVCT 영상을 획득했다. 팬톰을 치료 위치에 위치시킨 후 MVCT 영상을 얻고 이를 기준 MVCT영상과 비교하여 치료계획시와 동일환 자세가 되도록 위치를 교정했다. 교정된 자세에서 VGIS를 이용하여 기준 비디오 영상을 획득했다. 10회 걸쳐 MVCT 영상을 이용한 자세 교정과 VIGS를 이용한 비디오 영상기반 자세 교정을 각각 수행하여 두 방법간의 교정 값 차이(상관 분석)와 분석 시간을 비교했다. 팬톰 위치 교정 시간은 VIGS 시스템($41.7{\pm}11.2$ seconds)이 MVCT 방법($420{\pm}6$ seconds)에 비해 현저히 적게 조사됐다(p<0.05). 하지만 두 방법간의 위치 오차 분석 결과 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 보이지 않았다(x=0.11 mm, y=0.27 mm, z=0.58 mm, p>0.05). VIGS시스템이 짧은 시간에 정확한 위치 오차 감지 능력을 보여 이의 개발이 단층치료의 절차를 효율적으로 개선하는데 효과적일 것으로 생각된다.

At present, megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) is the only method used to correct the position of tomotherapy patients. MVCT produces extra radiation, in addition to the radiation used for treatment, and repositioning also takes up much of the total treatment time. To address these issues, we suggest the use of a video image-guided setup (VIGS) system for correcting the position of tomotherapy patients. We developed an in-house program to correct the exact position of patients using two orthogonal images obtained from two video cameras installed at $90^{\circ}$ and fastened inside the tomotherapy gantry. The system is programmed to make automatic registration possible with the use of edge detection of the user-defined region of interest (ROI). A head-and-neck patient is then simulated using a humanoid phantom. After taking the computed tomography (CT) image, tomotherapy planning is performed. To mimic a clinical treatment course, we used an immobilization device to position the phantom on the tomotherapy couch and, using MVCT, corrected its position to match the one captured when the treatment was planned. Video images of the corrected position were used as reference images for the VIGS system. First, the position was repeatedly corrected 10 times using MVCT, and based on the saved reference video image, the patient position was then corrected 10 times using the VIGS method. Thereafter, the results of the two correction methods were compared. The results demonstrated that patient positioning using a video-imaging method ($41.7{\pm}11.2$ seconds) significantly reduces the overall time of the MVCT method ($420{\pm}6$ seconds) (p<0.05). However, there was no meaningful difference in accuracy between the two methods (x=0.11 mm, y=0.27 mm, z=0.58 mm, p>0.05). Because VIGS provides a more accurate result and reduces the required time, compared with the MVCT method, it is expected to manage the overall tomotherapy treatment process more efficiently.

본 연구는 총 10명의 전립선 암 환자를 대상으로 세기조절방사선치료(IMRT), 균일스캐닝양성자치료(USPT), 그리고 세기조절양성자치료(IMPT)기술을 이용한 치료계획의 결과를 비교, 평가 하였다. 각 치료 계획은 타깃 체적의 95%에 70 Gy가 28회 분할 조사되도록 하였으며 세기조절방사선치료(IMRT)에서는 step-and-shoot 기법을 이용하여 총 7개의 빔을 사용하여 방사선을 조사하였고, 균일세기양성자치료(USPT)와 세기조절양성자치료(IMPT)에서는 동일한 방사선 가중치의 측방향대향조사면(lateral opposing field)를 사용하여 타깃에 처방선량이 전달되도록 하였다. 한편, 세기조절양성자치료(IMPT)의 최적화를 위해 IMRT치료와 유사한 Inverse planning을 수행하였다. 결과 비교를 위해 타깃의 균질성지수(homogeneity index) 및 동형지수(conformity index)와 정상조직의 정상조직합병증확률(NTCP)을 계산하였다. 비록 치료기법간에 균질성지수(homogeneity index), 동형지수(conformity index)차이가 크지 않았지만, 직장의 경우 각 세기조절방사선치료(IMRT), 균일스캐닝 양성자치료(USPT) 및 세기조절양성자치료(IMPT)에서 2.233, 3.326 및 1.707로 계산되었다. 또한 방광의 정상조직합병증확률(NTCP)는 0.008, 0.003, 및 0.002를 나타내었다. 직장과 방광의 NTCP 값이 IMPT을 사용할 때 유의하게 낮은 값을 보이는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통해 전립선 암의 방사선 치료 시 세기조절방사선치료(IMRT)보다 양성자를 이용한 방사선 치료, 특히 최적화된 세기조절양성자치료(IMPT)가 치료 효과를 높일 수 있는 치료계획이 될 수 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.

This study assessed compared photon and proton treatment techniques, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), uniform scanning proton therapy (USPT), and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), for a total of 10 prostate cancers. All treatment plans delivered 70 Gy to 95% of the planned target volume in 28 fractions. IMRT plans had 7 fields for the step and shoot technique, while USPT and IMPT plans employed two equally weighted, parallel-opposed lateral fields to deliver the prescribed dose to the planned target. Inverse planning was then incorporated to optimize IMPT. The homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) for the target and the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for organ at risk (OAR) were calculated. Although the mean HI and CI for target were not significantly different for each treatment techniques, the NTCP of the rectum was 2.233, 3.326, and 1.707 for IMRT, USPT, and IMPT, respectively. The NTCP of the bladder was 0.008, 0.003, and 0.002 respectively. The NTCP values at the rectum and bladder were significantly lower using IMPT. Our study shows that using proton therapy, particularly IMPT, to treat prostate cancer could be beneficial compared to 7-field IMRT with similar target coverage. Given these results, radiotherapy using protons, particularly optimized IMPT, is a worthwhile treatment option for prostate cancer.