Feasibility study for the development of multilayered solar cells for proton linear energy transfer depth profile measurement.

BACKGROUND: Previous study proposed a method to measure linear energy transfer (LET) at specific points using the quenching magnitude of thin film solar cells. This study was conducted to propose a more advanced method for measuring the LET distribution. PURPOSE: This study focuses on evaluating the feasibility of estimating the proton LET distribution in proton therapy. The feasibility of measuring the proton LET and dose distribution simultaneously using a single-channel configuration comprising two solar cells with distinct quenching constants is investigated with the objective of paving the way for enhanced proton therapy dosimetry. METHODS: Two solar cells with different quenching constants were used to estimate the proton LET distribution. Detector characteristics (e.g., dose linearity and dose-rate dependency) of the solar cells were evaluated to assess their suitability for dosimetry applications. First, using a reference beam condition, the quenching constants of the two solar cells were determined according to the modified Birks equation. The signal ratios of the two solar cells were then evaluated according to proton LET in relation to the estimated quenching constants. The proton LET distributions of six test beams were obtained by measuring the signal ratios of the two solar cells at each depth, and the ratios were evaluated by comparing them with those calculated by Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: The detector characterization of the two solar cells including dose linearity and dose-rate dependence affirmed their suitability for use in dosimetry applications. The maximum difference between the LET measured using the two solar cells and that calculated by Monte Carlo simulation was 2.34 keV/µm. In the case of the dose distribution measured using the method proposed in this study, the maximum difference between range measured using the proposed method and that measured using a multilayered ionization chamber was 0.7 mm. The expected accuracy of simultaneous LET and dose distribution measurement using the method proposed in this study were estimated to be 3.82%. The signal ratios of the two solar cells, which are related to quenching constants, demonstrated the feasibility of measuring LET and dose distribution simultaneously. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of measuring proton LET and dose distribution simultaneously using two solar cells with different quenching constants was demonstrated. Although the method proposed in this study was evaluated using a single channel by varying the measuring depth, the results suggest that the proton LET and dose distribution can be simultaneously measured if the detector is configured in a multichannel form. We believe that the results presented in this study provide the envisioned transition to a multichannel configuration, with the promise of substantially advancing proton therapy's accuracy and efficacy in cancer treatment.

Image quality characterization of an ultra-high-speed kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography imaging system on an O-ring linear accelerator.

PURPOSE: The quality of on-board imaging systems, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), plays a vital role in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and adaptive radiotherapy. Recently, there has been an upgrade of the CBCT systems fused in the O-ring linear accelerators called HyperSight, featuring a high imaging performance. As the characterization of a new imaging system is essential, we evaluated the image quality of the HyperSight system by comparing it with Halcyon 3.0 CBCT and providing benchmark data for routine imaging quality assurance. METHODS: The HyperSight features ultra-fast scan time, a larger kilovoltage (kV) detector, a more substantial kV tube, and an advanced reconstruction algorithm. Imaging protocols in the two modes of operation, treatment mode with IGRT and the CBCT for planning (CBCTp) mode were evaluated and compared with Halcyon 3.0 CBCT. Image quality metrics, including spatial resolution, contrast resolution, uniformity, noise, computed tomography (CT) number linearity, and calibration error, were assessed using a Catphan and an electron density phantom and analyzed with TotalQA software. RESULTS: HyperSight demonstrated substantial improvements in contrast-to-noise ratio and noise in both IGRT and CBCTp modes compared to Halcyon 3.0 CBCT. CT number calibration error of HyperSight CBCTp mode (1.06%) closely matches that of a full CT scanner (0.72%), making it suitable for adaptive planning. In addition, the advanced hardware of HyperSight, such as ultra-fast scan time (5.9 s) or 2.5 times larger heat unit capacity, enhanced the clinical efficiency in our experience. CONCLUSIONS: HyperSight represented a significant advancement in CBCT imaging. With its image quality, CT number accuracy, and ultra-fast scans, HyperSight has a potential to transform patient care and treatment outcomes. The enhanced scan speed and image quality of HyperSight are expected to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of treatment, particularly benefiting patients.

Toxicity Evaluation of Dose-Escalation in Hypofractionated Regional Nodal Irradiation for Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Regional nodal irradiation (RNI) to the axilla and supraclavicular area presents distinct toxicities, such as lymphedema and shoulder stiffness, compared with whole-breast irradiation. There is insufficient evidence on the safety of dose-escalation in hypofractionated RNI. We aimed to evaluate and compare toxicity rates in patients with breast cancer who received hypofractionated RNI with and without dose-escalation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed 381 patients with breast cancer treated with hypofractionated RNI between March 2015 and February 2017. Patients received either the standard-dose to the regional nodal area (43.2 Gy/16 fx; 48.7 Gy3.5 equivalent dose [EQD2], 2 Gy equivalent dose with α/ß= 3.5 Gy) or dose-escalation with a median dose of 54.8 Gy3.5 EQD2 (range, 51.7-60.9 Gy3.5 EQD2), depending on clinical and pathologic nodal stage. Toxicity rates of lymphedema and shoulder stiffness were assessed, and statistical analyses were conducted to identify associated factors. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 32.3 months (5.7-47.0 months). After radiation therapy, 71 (18.6%) patients developed lymphedema, and 48 (12.6%) developed shoulder stiffness. Patients who received dose-escalation exhibited significantly higher rates of lymphedema (32.1% vs 14.8%; odds ratio, 2.72, P = .0004) and shoulder stiffness (23.8% vs 9.4%; odds ratio, 2.01, P = .0205) compared with the standard-dose group. Moreover, dose-escalation showed a tendency to increase the severity of lymphedema and shoulder stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received dose-escalation in hypofractionated RNI face a higher risk of developing lymphedema and shoulder stiffness compared with those who received standard-dose hypofractionated RNI. Therefore, it is crucial to implement close and frequent monitoring for early detection, along with timely rehabilitation interventions for these patients.

Korean-specific iodine S values for use in internal dosimetry.

The use of iodine S values derived using the International Commission Radiological Protection (ICRP) phantoms may introduce significant bias in internal dosimetry for Koreans due to anatomical variability. In the current study, we produced an extensive dataset of Korean S values for selected five iodine radioisotopes (I-125, I-129, I-131, I-133, and I-134) for use in radiation protection. To calculate S values, we implemented Monte Carlo simulations using the Mesh-type Reference Korean Phantoms (MRKPs), developed in a high-quality/fidelity mesh format. Noticeable differences were observed in S value comparisons between the Korean and ICRP reference phantoms with ratios (Korean/ICRP) widely ranging from 0.16 to 6.2. The majority of S value ratios were lower than the unity in Korean phantoms (interquartile range =0.47-1.28; mean = 0.96; median = 0.69). The S values provided in the current study will be extensively utilized in iodine internal dosimetry for Koreans.

Organ dose reconstruction for the radiation epidemiological study of Korean radiation workers: the first dose evaluation for the Korean Radiation Worker Study (KRWS).

The Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences has started a radiation epidemiological study, titled "Korean Radiation Worker Study," to evaluate the health effects of occupational exposure to radiation. As a part of this study, we investigated the methodologies and results of reconstructing organ-specific absorbed doses based on personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), reported from 1984 to 2019 for 20,605 Korean radiation workers. For the organ dose reconstruction, representative exposure scenarios (i.e., radiation energy and exposure geometry) were first determined according to occupational groups, and dose coefficients for converting Hp(10) to organ absorbed doses were then appropriately taken based on the exposure scenarios. Individual annual doses and individual cumulative doses were reconstructed for 27 organs, and the highest values were observed in the thyroid doses (on average 0.77 mGy/y and 10.47 mGy, respectively). Mean values of individual cumulative absorbed doses for the red bone marrow, colon, and lungs were 7.83, 8.78, and 8.43 mSv, respectively. Most of the organ doses were maximum for industrial radiographers, followed by nuclear power plant workers, medical workers, and other facility workers. The organ dose database established in this study will be utilized for organ-specific risk estimation in the Korean Radiation Worker Study.

Pulmonary toxicity of craniospinal irradiation using helical tomotherapy.

Craniospinal irradiation using helical tomotherapy (HT-CSI) has advantages in aspects of homogeneous dose distribution. Physicians, however, still have concerns of pulmonary toxicity due to HT-CSI's relatively large, low-dose irradiated volume from continuous and 360° rotation delivery. In this study, we investigated the pulmonary toxicity of HT-CSI. We retrospectively reviewed 105 patients who received HT-CSI between January 2014 and December 2019. Grade 2 + pulmonary toxicities were evaluated. Intensive systemic treatment was defined as systemic treatment administration before, during, and after HT-CSI. VX Gy was defined as % volume receiving ≥ X Gy. Thirteen patients (12.4%) presented with grade 2 + pulmonary toxicities after HT-CSI. Of these patients, only one experienced grade 2 radiation pneumonitis combined with pembrolizumab-induced pneumonitis. Conversely, pneumonia was observed in 12 patients. Intensive systemic treatment (p = 0.004), immunosuppressive drugs (p = 0.031), and bilateral lung V5 Gy ≥ 65% (p = 0.031) were identified as independent risk factors for pneumonia. The risk factor for pneumonia in pediatric patients were immunosuppressive drugs (p = 0.035) and bilateral lung V5 Gy ≥ 65% (p = 0.047). HT-CSI can be a safe treatment modality with tolerable pulmonary toxicities. Intensive systemic treatment, immunosuppressive drugs, and bilateral lung V5 Gy ≥ 65% were significantly associated with pneumonia. In these patients, close follow-up should be considered for proper management of pneumonia.

Performance Evaluation of Deformable Image Registration Algorithms Using Computed Tomography of Multiple Lung Metastases.

Purpose: Various deformable image registration (DIR) methods have been used to evaluate organ deformations in 4-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) images scanned during the respiratory motions of a patient. This study assesses the performance of 10 DIR algorithms using 4D CT images of 5 patients with fiducial markers (FMs) implanted during the postoperative radiosurgery of multiple lung metastases. Methods: To evaluate DIR algorithms, 4D CT images of 5 patients were used, and ground-truths of FMs and tumors were generated by physicians based on their medical expertise. The positions of FMs and tumors in each 4D CT phase image were determined using 10 DIR algorithms, and the deformed results were compared with ground-truth data. Results: The target registration errors (TREs) between the FM positions estimated by optical flow algorithms and the ground-truth ranged from 1.82 ± 1.05 to 1.98 ± 1.17 mm, which is within the uncertainty of the ground-truth position. Two algorithm groups, namely, optical flow and demons, were used to estimate tumor positions with TREs ranging from 1.29 ± 1.21 to 1.78 ± 1.75 mm. With respect to the deformed position for tumors, for the 2 DIR algorithm groups, the maximum differences of the deformed positions for gross tumor volume tracking were approximately 4.55 to 7.55 times higher than the mean differences. Errors caused by the aforementioned difference in the Hounsfield unit values were also observed. Conclusions: We quantitatively evaluated 10 DIR algorithms using 4D CT images of 5 patients and compared the results with ground-truth data. The optical flow algorithms showed reasonable FM-tracking results in patient 4D CT images. The iterative optical flow method delivered the best performance in this study. With respect to the tumor volume, the optical flow and demons algorithms delivered the best performance.

Practical aspects of the application of helical tomotherapy for craniospinal irradiation.

We investigated the practical aspects of the application of craniospinal irradiation using helical tomotherapy (HT-CSI) by evaluating interfractional setup errors and intrafractional movement during each treatment in 83 patients undergoing HT-CSI between January 2014 and December 2018. Interfractional setup errors in each axis (mediolateral; ML, craniocaudal; CC, and anteroposterior; AP) were assessed as differences between pre-treatment megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images scanned (zygomatic arch to the C4 spine) and planning CT images. Intrafractional movements were evaluated as the difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment MVCT (T12-L4 spine) images at each fraction. Median interfractional setup error was acceptable in every axis (ML: 1.6 mm, CC: 1.9 mm, AP: 3.1 mm). Seven patients (8.4%) experienced significant intrafractional displacement from 1 to 10 fractions (0.34% for ML, 0.74% for CC, 1.21% for AP). Weight loss grade 1+ during treatment (p = 0.016) was an independent risk factor for significant intrafractional displacement. The risk factor for significant intrafractional movement in pediatric patients was weight loss grade 1+ (p = 0.020), while there was no factor in adults. HT-CSI could be a feasible treatment modality with acceptable setup verification. Inter- and intrafractional errors were acceptable; paying attention to weight loss during treatment is necessary, especially in pediatric patients.

Korean-specific biokinetic model for iodine in radiological protection.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recently adopted a detailed biokinetic model for systemic iodine with reference transfer coefficients based on typical worldwide dietary intakes of stable iodine. The regional data provided demonstrate that the ICRP reference thyroidal biokinetics may differ substantially across regions with atypically low or high dietary intakes of stable iodine. Importantly, the design of the ICRP model facilitates modifications of reference thyroidal kinetics based on regional dietary iodine intake. The present study extended the ICRP model to the South Korean population, whose dietary iodine intake is much higher than the global mean. The following three transfer coefficients were selected as targets for Korean-specific values: thyroidal uptake rate (λ1), hormonal secretion rate (λ4) and leakage rate of thyroidal organic iodine as inorganic iodide (λ5). The Korean-specific values forλ1,λ4andλ5were determined to be 4.48, 0.0086 and 0.0171 d-1, respectively, to yield the measurements of thyroidal iodine and physiological status of Korean adults. The determinedλ1andλ5values differed noticeably from the ICRP values, whereas theλ4value was comparable to that of the ICRP. Compared with the ICRP reference model, the Korean model, in which the Korean-specific transfer coefficients were adopted, predicted noticeably lower thyroidal uptake and faster decrease of thyroidal iodine. In addition, the predicted cumulative activities of radioiodine in the thyroid were substantially lower (40-80%) than those predicted by the ICRP model. The Korean model developed in this study demonstrates that the iodine biokinetics for Koreans (i.e. a population with a high iodine consumption) obviously differ from the prediction of the ICRP model. Hence, the Korean model may serve to improve the accuracy of thyroid dose estimation for Koreans and will lead to practical changes in matters concerned with radiological protection.

Simple calculation using anatomical features on pre-treatment verification CT for bladder volume estimation during radiation therapy for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite detailed instruction for full bladder, patients are unable to maintain consistent bladder filling during a 5-week pelvic radiation therapy (RT) course. We investigated the best bladder volume estimation procedure for verifying consistent bladder volume. METHODS: We reviewed 462 patients who underwent pelvic RT. Biofeedback using a bladder scanner was conducted before simulation and during treatment. Exact bladder volume was calculated by bladder inner wall contour based on CT images (Vctsim). Bladder volume was estimated either by bladder scanner (Vscan) or anatomical features from the presacral promontory to the bladder base and dome in the sagittal plane of CT (Vratio). The feasibility of Vratio was validated using daily megavoltage or kV cone-beam CT before treatment. RESULTS: Mean Vctsim was 335.6 ± 147.5 cc. Despite a positive correlation between Vctsim and Vscan (R2 = 0.278) and between Vctsim and Vratio (R2 = 0.424), Vratio yielded more consistent results than Vscan, with a mean percentage error of 26.3 (SD 19.6, p < 0.001). The correlation between Vratio and Vctsim was stronger than that between Vscan and Vctsim (Z-score: - 7.782, p < 0.001). An accuracy of Vratio was consistent in megavoltage or kV cone-beam CT during treatment. In a representative case, we can dichotomize for clinical scenarios with or without bowel displacement, using a ratio of 0.8 resulting in significant changes in bowel volume exposed to low radiation doses. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder volume estimation using personalized anatomical features based on pre-treatment verification CT images was useful and more accurate than physician-dependent bladder scanners. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Uncertainty quantification of bioassay functions for the internal dosimetry of radioiodine.

Bioassay functions, which are provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, are used to estimate the intake activity of radionuclides; however, they include considerable uncertainties in terms of the internal dosimetry for a particular individual. During a practical internal dose assessment, the uncertainty in the bioassay function is generally not introduced because of the difficulty in quantification. Therefore, to clarify the existence of uncertainty in the bioassay function and provide dosimetrists with an insight into this uncertainty, this study attempted to quantify the uncertainty in the thyroid retention function used for radioiodine exposure. The uncertainty was quantified using a probabilistic estimation of the thyroid retention function through the propagation of the distribution of biokinetic parameters by the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The uncertainties in the thyroid retention function, expressed in terms of the scattering factor, were in the ranges of 1.55-1.60 and 1.40-1.50 for within 24 h and after 24 h, respectively. In addition, the thyroid retention function within 24 h was compared with actual measurement data to confirm the uncertainty due to the use of first-order kinetics in the biokinetic model calculation. Significantly higher thyroid uptakes (by a factor of 1.9) were observed in the actual measurements. This study indicates that consideration of the uncertainty in the thyroid retention function can avoid a significant over- and under-estimation of the internal dose, particularly when a high dose is predicted.

Magnetic resonance image-based tomotherapy planning for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the feasibilities of magnetic resonance (MR) image-based planning using synthetic computed tomography (sCT) versus CT (pCT)-based planning in helical tomotherapy for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was performed in 16 patients with prostate cancer who had been treated with helical tomotherapy. MR images were acquired using a dedicated therapy sequence; sCT images were generated using magnetic resonance for calculating attenuation (MRCAT). The three-dimensional dose distribution according to sCT was recalculated using a previously optimized plan and was compared with the doses calculated using pCT. RESULTS: The mean planning target volume doses calculated by sCT and pCT differed by 0.65% ± 1.11% (p = 0.03). Three-dimensional gamma analysis at a 2%/2 mm dose difference/distance to agreement yielded a pass rate of 0.976 (range, 0.658 to 0.986). CONCLUSION: The dose distribution results obtained using tomotherapy from MR-only simulations were in good agreement with the dose distribution results from simulation CT, with mean dose differences of less than 1% for target volume and normal organs in patients with prostate cancer.

Targeting DNA-dependent protein kinase sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to proton beam irradiation through apoptosis induction.

Recent studies have highlighted the implications of genetic variations in the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of proton beam irradiation over conventional X-ray irradiation. Proton beam radiotherapy is a reasonable radiotherapy option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the impact of genetic difference on the HCC RBE remains unknown. Here, we determined proton RBE in human HCC cells by exposing them to various doses of either 6-MV X-rays or 230-MeV proton beams. Clonogenic survival assay revealed variable radiosensitivity of human HCC cell lines with survival fraction at 2 Gy ranging from 0.38 to 0.83 and variable proton RBEs with 37% survival fraction ranging from 1.00 to 1.48. HCC cells appeared more sensitive to proton irradiation than X-rays, with more persistent activation of DNA damage repair proteins over time. Depletion of a DNA damage repair gene, DNA-PKcs, by siRNA dramatically increased the sensitivity of HCC cells to proton beams with a decrease in colony survival and an increase in apoptosis. Our findings suggest that there are large variations in proton RBE in HCC cells despite the use of a constant RBE of 1.1 in the clinic and targeting DNA-PKcs in combination with proton beam therapy may be a promising regimen for treating HCC.

PRACTICAL METHODS FOR INTERNAL DOSE ASSESSMENT FOR RADIOIODINE INTAKE AFTER THYROID BLOCKING: CLASSIFICATION OF DEGREE OF BLOCKAGE AND DETERMINATION OF INSENSITIVE MEASUREMENT POINT.

Iodine thyroid blocking (ITB) suppresses the uptake of iodine to the thyroid and reduces internal doses after radioiodine intake; however, its disturbance of thyroid biokinetics causes considerable uncertainty in the use of dosimetric data intended for assessment of unblocked normal thyroid. To more accurately assess internal dose after ITB, practical dosimetry methods were proposed that consider the ITB effect in a dosimetric manner. A method using the ratio of urine excretion to thyroid retention activity was proposed to retrospectively determine individual-specific ITB levels; bioassay functions and dose coefficients corresponding to ITB levels were calculated separately using the latest biokinetic model and fundamental data. Moreover, insensitive measurement points of time, which led to similar results regardless of ITB level, were determined based on the dose per unit content. Proposed insensitive points for inhalation of vapour forms and particulate forms, respectively, were 1.5 days and 2 days after exposure.

Heart-sparing radiotherapy with three-dimensional printing technology after mastectomy for patients with left breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of electron beam therapy (EBT) with patient-tailored bolus (PTB) using three-dimensional printing technology to reduce heart and lung doses during post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). For 28 patients with left breast cancer, we designed customized virtual bolus for PMRT to compensate for surface irregularities on computed tomography images and developed optimized plans for EBT. As comparison between the PTB and tangential plans, the PTB plan reduced unnecessary exposure to heart and ipsilateral lung with better target coverage compared with the tangential technique.

Korean First Prospective Phase II Study, Feasibility of Prone Position in Postoperative Whole Breast Radiotherapy: A Dosimetric Comparison.

PURPOSE: This first Korean prospective study is to evaluate the feasibility of prone breast radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery for left breast cancer patients who have relatively small breast size and we present dosimetric comparison between prone and supine positions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients underwent two computed tomography (CT) simulations in supine and prone positions. Whole breast, ipsilateral lung, heart, and left-anterior-descending coronary artery were contoured on each simulation CT images. Tangential-fields treatment plan in each position was designed with total 50 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, and then one of the positions was designated for the treatment by comparing target coverage and dose to normal organs. Also, interfractional and intrafractional motion was evaluated using portal images. RESULTS: In total 50 patients, 32 cases were decided as prone-position-beneficial group and 18 cases as supine-position-beneficial group based on dosimetric advantage. Target dose homogeneity was comparable, but target conformity in prone position was closer to optimal than in supine position. For both group, prone position significantly increased lung volume. However, heart volumewas decreased by prone position for prone-position-beneficial group but was comparable between two positions for supine-position-beneficial group. Lung and heart doses were significantly decreased by prone position for prone-position-beneficial group. However, prone position for supine-position-beneficial group increased heart dose while decreasing lung dose. Prone position showed larger interfractional motion but smaller intra-fractional motion than supine position. CONCLUSION: Prone breast radiotherapy could be beneficial to a subset of small breast patients since it substantially spared normal organs while achieving adequate target coverage.

Clinical implementation of Dosimetry Check™ for TomoTherapy® delivery quality assurance.

PURPOSE: The delivery quality assurance (DQA) of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans is a prerequisite for ensuring patient treatments. This work investigated the clinical usefulness of a new DQA system, Dosimetry Check™(DC), on TomoTherapy® -based helical IMRT plans. METHODS: The DQA was performed for 15 different TomoTherapy® -based clinical treatment plans. In Tomotherapy® machines, the couch position was set to a height of 400 mm and the treatment plans were delivered using QA-Treatment mode. For each treatment plan, the plan data and measured beam fluence were transferred to a DC-installed computer. Then, DC reconstructed the three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution to the CT images of the patient. The reconstructed dose distribution was compared with that of the original plan in terms of absolute dose, two-dimensional (2D) planes and 3D volume. The DQA results were compared with those performed by a conventional method using the cheese phantom with ion chamber and radiochromic film. RESULTS: For 14 out of the 15 treatment plans, the absolute dose difference between the measurement and calculation was less than 3% and the gamma pass rate with the 3%/3 mm gamma evaluation criteria was greater than 95% for both DQA methods. The P-value calculated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test was 0.256, which implies no statistically significance in determining the absolute dose difference between the two methods. For one treatment plan generated using the 5.0 cm field width, the absolute dose difference was greater than 3% and the gamma pass rate was less than 95% with DC, while the DQA result with the cheese phantom method passed our TomoTherapy® DQA tolerance. CONCLUSION: We have clinically implemented DC for the DQA of TomoTherapy® -based helical IMRT treatment plans. DC carried out the accurate DQA results as performed with the conventional cheese phantom method. This new DQA system provided more information in verifying the dose delivery to patients, while simplifying the DQA process.

Individual case review in a phase 3 randomized trial to investigate the role of internal mammary lymph node irradiation for breast cancer: Korean Radiation Oncology Group 08-06 study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess protocol compliance based on an individual case review (ICR) of the Korean Radiation Oncology Group-0806 trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: For the ICR, 747 participants were divided into eight subgroups based on internal mammary node irradiation (IMNI), tumor laterality, and surgery type. Next, 15% of patients were randomly selected within each subgroup, and corresponding hospitals were subsequently requested to upload information related to radiation therapy (RT) planning. We reviewed the dose distributions of targets and organs at risk to determine protocol compliance. RESULTS: Data of 102 patients were collected. Overall, RT plans were found to be mostly protocol-compliant, with acceptability rates of 60-80% despite deviations in the ipsilateral lung in Arm 2 (IMNI group). However, despite few deviations, a subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in protocol compliance. Among RT techniques, plans using standard and partial wide tangents were most compliant in both Arms. In this ICR, the estimated survival benefits based on IMN doses were 7.7%, 8.4%, and 7.2% for all, breast-conserving surgery, and mastectomy cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: This ICR demonstrated overall protocol compliance, despite significant differences with regard to IMN irradiation and organs at risk according to subgroups and adopted field arrangements.

Variation in Practice Patterns of Korean Radiation Oncologists for Spine Metastasis between 2009 and 2014.

PURPOSE: The Korean Society of Radiation Oncologists (KOSRO) conducted the Patterns of Care Study (PCS) of radiotherapy (RT) for spine metastases in 2009. The current study was conducted to investigate current practice patterns and compare them with the results of the PCS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey questionnaire was composed of 10 questions regarding general information and seven questions for each of two clinical scenarios. RESULTS: Fifty-four members of the KOSRO answered at least one question on the web-based questionnaire. The yearly number of patients treated who underwent palliative spine RT was greater than 200 in 14 (25.9%), 51 to 100 in 13 (24.1%), and 31 to 50 in 11 respondents (20.4%). Scenario 1 described a patient presenting with cord compressive spine metastasis in multiple bones and liver metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer. Thirty gray (Gy) in 10 fractions was chosen by 35 respondents (64.8%). Scenario 2 described a case of a single spine metastasis without progression after targeted therapy. Thirty Gy in 10 fractions was chosen by 19 respondents (35.2%), and a single fraction or less than four fractions of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) were selected by 18 respondents (33.3%). When compared with the 2009 PCS, practice patterns of Korean radiation oncologists had not changed significantly over 5 years, except that SABR emerged as a new treatment modality in the selected population. CONCLUSION: The 2014 PCS demonstrated that multiple fraction RT is still preferred in a considerable proportion of Korean radiation oncologists.

A Feasibility Study of a Tilted Head Position in Helical Tomotherapy for Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy of Intracranial Malignancies.

Herein, we evaluated the feasibility of placing patients in a tilted head position as part of routine clinical practice for fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) of intracranial tumors using helical tomotherapy (HT), by assessing its dosimetric benefit and setup accuracy. We reviewed treatment plans of four cases that were to receive FSRT for brain lesions in normal and head-tilted positions. These patients underwent two computed tomography (CT) scans: first in the normal supine position and then in the supine position with the head tilted at a 458 angle. Two separate HT plans for each position were generated in these four patients, using the same planning parameters. Plans were compared for target conformity and dose homogeneity. Maximum and average doses to critical organs, including normal brain, brain stem, optic chiasm, optic nerves, and the eyes, were considered. To evaluate setup accuracy, patient movement during treatment was assessed by post-treatment megavoltage CT scans. Both HT plans achieved similar conformal and homogeneous dose coverage to the target. Head-tilted HT delivered lower average and maximum doses to critical organs in the cases where the tumor was located on the same plane with critical organs, particularly when they were not directly attached. Placement in the head-tilted position without a mouthpiece allowed for increased patient movement during treatment, while use of a mouthpiece reduced patient movement to even less than that observed for normal setup in the supine position. This pilot study showed that placement in a tilted head position for FSRT of intracranial tumors using HT may be of clinical use, but depends on the tumor location.