Eun-Tae Park

Evaluation of radiotherapy setup accuracy for head and neck cancer using a 3-D surface imaging system

The purpose of this study was to measure the accuracy of a three-dimensional surface imaging system (3-D SIS) in comparison to a 3-laser system by analyzing the setup errors obtained from a RANDO Phantom and head and neck cancer patients. The 3-D SIS used for the evaluation of the setup errors was a C-RAD Sentinel. In the phantom study, the OBI setup errors without the thermoplastic mask of the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS were measured. Furthermore, the setup errors with the thermoplastic mask of the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS were measured. After comparison of the CBCT, setup correction about 1 mm was performed in a few cases. The probability of the error without the thermoplastic mask exceeding 1 mm in the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS was 75.00% vs. 35.00% on the X-axis, 80.00% vs. 40.00% on the Y-axis, and 80.00% vs. 65.00% on the Z-axis. Moreover, the probability of the error with the thermoplastic mask exceeding 1 mm in the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS was 70.00% vs. 15.00% on the X-axis, 75.00% vs. 25.00% on the Y-axis, and 70.00% vs. 35.00% on the Z-axis. These results showed that the 3-D SIS has a lower probability of setup error than the 3-laser system for the phantom. For the patients, the setup errors of the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS were measured. The probability of the error exceeding more than 1 mm in the 3-laser system vs. the 3-D SIS was shown to be 81.82% vs. 36.36% on the X-axis, 81.82% vs. 45.45% on the Y-axis, and 86.36% vs. 72.73% on the Z-axis. As a result, the 3-D SIS also exhibited a lower probability of setup error for the cancer patients. Therefore, this study confirmed that the 3-D SIS is a promising method for setup verification.

Evaluation of Setup When Using C-Rad System in Radiotherapy

In radiotherapy, accurate patient positioning and set up are important factor that treatment can influence success. In generally, the 3-laser system is used when the patient set up. But today the body surface scanning system(C-Rad system) is trying to use. Compare and evaluate the C-Rad system and the 3-laser system to check availability. Head and neck that are no movement of internal organs and easy to apply fixation device are limited. Alderson Rando anthropomorphic phantom and 10 patients who have lesions of head and neck are targeted. C-RAD system`s setup error mean and standard deviation are the X axis(), Y axis(), Z axis() in the phantom study, and in the patient study X axis(), Y axis() Z axis(). So C-RAD system is better than 3-laser system mostly, but C-RAD system`s error rate is a little worse than 3-laser system in the Z axis. When radiation treatment of head and neck, body surface contour scanning system contribute to correct positioning and minimize the set up error.

Assessment of human exposure doses received by activation of medical linear accelerator components

This study analyzes the radiation exposure dose that an operator can receive from radioactive components during maintenance or repair of a linear accelerator. This study further aims to evaluate radiological safety. Simulations are performed on 10 MV and 15 MV photon beams, which are the most frequently used high-energy beams in clinics. The simulation analyzes components in order of activity and the human exposure dose based on the amount of neutrons received. As a result, the neutron dose, radiation dose, and human exposure dose are ranked in order of target, primary collimator, flattening filter, multi-leaf collimator, and secondary collimator, where the minimum dose is 9.34E-07 mSv/h and the maximum is 1.71E-02 mSv/h. When applying the general dose limit (radiation worker 20 mSv/year, pubic 1 mSv/year) in accordance with the Nuclear Safety Act, all components of a linear accelerator are evaluated as below the threshold value. Therefore, the results suggest that there is no serious safety issue for operators in maintaining and repairing a linear accelerator. Nevertheless, if an operator recognizes an exposure from the components of a linear accelerator during operation and considers the operating time and shielding against external exposure, exposure of the operator is expected to be minimized.

Perception Survey of Nuclear Power after the Nuclear Plant and Thyroid Cancer Controversy

본 연구는 부산광역시 거주민을 대상으로 원전주변 갑상선암 논란에 따른 원자력에 대한 전반적 인식을 분석하기 위해 위험도, 발전방식에 대한 선호도 및 경제성, 사전-사후 원자력에 대한 인식 등을 조사하였다. 그 결과, 원전 주변 갑상선암 논란을 계기로 국민들의 원자력에 대한 인식에 변화가 있는 것으로 나타났으며...

Analysis of Radioactive Characterization in the Medical Linear Accelerator Shielding Wall Using Monte Carlo Method

본 연구는 의료용 선형가속기를 차폐하고 있는 차폐벽에 대하여 방사화 분석을 함으로서 추후 선형가속 기 시설의 해체 시 해체비용의 절반이상을 차지하는 차폐벽에 대하여 폐기물 준위를 평가하고 이에 따른 폐기물 처리방법을 분석함으로서 해체비용 측면에 있어서 이득을 얻을 수 있는 방법에 대하여 논의하고자 한다. 실험결과, 선형가속기에서 발생하는 중성자 양은 차폐벽을 방사화 시키기에 충분한 양이 측정되었으 며, 방사화 분석 결과 약 20 개 이상의 핵종이 분석되었다. 이 중 Na, Ca, Fe 핵종이 규제해제 농도를 초과하는 것으로 분석되었으며, 그 값은 차폐벽 깊이가 깊어질수록 농도는 줄어들었다. 이를 바탕으로 특 정 세 구역(E,F,G)은 매립이나 재활용이 불가능한 것으로 평가되었으며, 나머지 구역은 일정 깊이 이상일 경우 매립이나 재활용이 가능한 것으로 평가되었다.

Characteristic evaluation of photoneutron in radiotherapy room using MCNPX

Linear accelerators are now playing a pivotal role in radiotherapy and high energy photon beams of a strength exceeding 8 MV have recently been mainly used. However, when using high energy photons, neutron contamination due to photonuclear reaction develops. This study focused on the dose distribution of photoneutrons emitted from a linear accelerator using Monte Carlo MCNPX code. MCNPX was used to simulate transportation of photoneutrons in the linear accelerator and the entire space of the radiotherapy room and is useful for calculating the flux, spectrum and absorbed dose. As result of the simulation, we could know that the neutron absorbed dose was as less as negligible when comparing to the photon absorbed dose in radiotherapy room. And it was found that the photoneutron flux increased substantially starting from 10 MV while the absorbed dose rose sharply between 10 MV and 12 MV. It was observed that although the ratio of thermal neutrons to fast neutrons was not altered as the energy increased, it was found that as the distance from the source increased the ratio of thermal neutrons rose markedly.