The trajectories for high-energy electrons in water under magnetic fields were calculated approximately by numerical method. A differential equation for electrons under magnetic field was built and the calculation code was devised by Euler method. Using the code, the trajectories for electrons with energies of 3, 5, 10, and 15 MeV in water were calculated in the presence of magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the incident electrons. Since we considered only the energy loss and the directional change for primary electrons, there are errors in this calculation. However, based on the results we were able to explain the variation of dose distributions by the external magnetic fields in water.

The fMRI response of the somatosensory cortex was investigated with vibrotactile stimulation. Three different frequencies of 8, 15, or 25 Hz were applied in order to mainly focus on the hemodynamic response of Meissner corpuscles sensitive to frequencies of 5∼40 Hz. A closed-system, pneumatically-driven, rubber diaphragm was fabricated that overcame many of the limitations of existing vibrotactile devices and produced robust sensory cortex activation in an fMRI experiment. Increasing frequency vs. activation area was analyzed in terms of signal percent change and number of pixels. Our preliminary results indicated that the distribution of the signal percentage change widened and more activated pixels were obtained with higher frequencies.

This study was aimed to develop a new ovoid applicator for vaginal high-dose rate intracavitary radiation therapy, evaluate uniformity of dose distribution, and assess clinical applicability. The authors evaluated dose uniformity of vaginal mucosa according to 5-different ovoid-separation using 2-channel and modified 3-channel ovoid applicator. There were no significant differences in the dose distribution along the vaginal mucosa with 2 and 2.5 cm separations, but there were between the 2-channel and 3-channel ovoid applicator with a separation of 3 cm or more. Although a low dose area was shown between two ovoid applicators with the 2-channel ovoid applicator, the dose distribution along the vaginal mucosa with the 3-channel ovoid applicator was very uniform.

The absorbed dose for proton beam in water was calculated using the PTRAN code system. The proton interactions with water and the description on absorbed dose calculations are discussed, and the file structure and an execution example of the PTRAN codes are described. For 60, 100, 150, 200, and 250 MeV proton beams it is demonstrated that the absorbed dose is determined from the sum of Coulomb interactions and nuclear reactions, and that the Bragg peak feature depends on the energy straggling and multiple scattering. The PTRAN code was useful for studying the fundamental mechanism of the absorbed dose to water for clinical proton beams.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of tissue inhomogeneity corrections on the dose delivered to prostate cancer patients treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).
Methods and Materials: For five prostate cancer patients, IMRT treatment plans were generated using 6 MV or 10 MV X-rays. In each plan, seven equally spaced ports of photon beams were directed to the isocenter, neglecting the tissue heterogeneity in the body. The dose at the isocenter, mean dose, maximum dose, minimum dose and volume that received more than 95% of the isocenter dose in the planning target volume (V_p＞95%) were measured. The maximum doses to the rectum and the bladder, and the volumes that received more than 50, 75 and 90% of the prescribed dose were measured. Treatment plans were then recomputed using tissue inhomogeneity correction maintaining the intensity profiles and monitor units of each port. The prescription point dose and other dosimetric parameters were remeasured.
Results: The inhomogeneity correction reduced the prescription point dose by an average 4.9 and 4.0% with 6 and 10 MV X-rays, respectively. The average reductions of the V_p＞95% were 0.8 and 0.9% with the 6 and 10 MV X-rays, respectively. The mean doses in the PTV were reduced by an average of 4.2 and 3.4% with the 6 and 10 MV X-rays, respectively. The irradiated volume parameters in the rectum and bladder were less decreased; less than 2.1% (1.2%) of the reduction in the rectum (bladder). The average reductions in the mean dose were 1.0 and 0.5% in the rectum and bladder, respectively.
Conclusions: Neglect of tissue inhomogeneity in the IMRT treatment of prostate cancer gives rise to a notable overestimation of the dose delivered to the target, whereas the impact of tissue inhomogeneity correction to the surrounding critical organs is less significant.

An essential quality assurance (QA) procedure in high dose rate (HDR) remote after-loading brachytherapy is that of the verification of the Ir-192 HDR source positioning accuracy. A number of methods using mechanical rulers or autoradiograph and video cameras have been reported to check the positional error of the Ir-192 source. In this study, the feasibility of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) PC camera, with a fluorescent screen, was investigated. The agreement between the planned and measured dwell position was better than 1 mm and dwell times better than 0.4 sec. Our results indicate that the CMOS PC camera system could be used as a QA tool for the on-line determination of the source position and dwell time.

A simplistic quality assurance (QA) method was designed for a Linac built-in enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW), which can be utilized to make wedged beam distributions. For the purpose of implementing the EDW symmetry QA, a film dosimetry system, low speedy dosimetry film, film densitometer and 3D RTP system were used, and the films irradiated by means of a 60^o Reversed wedge pair (REWP) method. The profiles were then analyzed in terms of their symmetries, including partial treatment, which is the case of stopping it abruptly during EDW irradiation, and the measured and calculated values compared using the CadPlan Golden Segmented Treatment Table (Golden STT). The result of this experiment was in good agreement, within 1%, of the "reversed wedge pair counterbalance effect". For the QA of the effective wedge factor (EWF), the authors measured EWFs in relation to the 10^o, 15^o, 20^o, 25^o, 30^o, 45^o and 60^o EDW, which were compared with the calculated values using the correction factor derived from the Golden STT and the log files produced automatically during the process of EDW irradiation. By means of this method it was capable of check up the safety of effective wedge factor without any other dosimetry system. The EDW QA was able to be completed within 1 hour from irradiation to analysis as a consequence of the simplified QA procedure, with maximized effectiveness. Unlike the metal wedge system, the EDW system was heavily dependent on the dose rates and jaw movements; therefore, its features could potentially cause inaccuracy. The frequent simplistic QA for the EDW is essential, and could secure against the flaw of dynamic treatment that uses the EDW.

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.