PURPOSE: This study was aimed to develop a new vaginal applicator(Shin's Applicator) for 2-channel high-dose rate vaginal brachytherapy to evaluate uniformity of surface dose, and to present 3-dimensional dose distribution of the applicator. METHODS: Shin's Applicator was inexpensively constructed using human soft tissue equivalent acrylic bar. We evaluated dose uniformity along the applicator surface using film densitometer and performed vaginal intracavitary brachytherapy after insertion of the applicator using HDR brachytherapy planning software and brachytherapy unit(Ralstron-20B). RESULTS: Shin's Applicator allows improved dose distribution than the existing 1-channel cylinder and achieves diminished urinary bladder and rectal dose by 20%. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, it can be concluded that Shin's Applicator may be an improved form of a vaginal applicator. Furthermore, it can be suggested that this applicator has an advantage, for it prevents vaginal stenosis after radiation therapy and can be used as a disposable vaginal dilator. Further follow up examination with radiological study may be helpful to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of this applicator.
Brachytherapy* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder

Clinical estimation of bladder and rectal doses from high dose rate intracavitary irradiation in carcinoma of the cervix uteri has been initiated on a routine basis in an effort to obtain the optimum radiotherapeutic dose. Simulation films with contrast media are used to image the bladder and rectum, and dose rates are estimated at various interesting points with the aid of treatment planning computer, NEC Therac-2300. Fifty-three patients have been reviewed in order to ascertain the correlation between radiation dose at interesting points in the bladder and rectum and the dose at Point A and B. The dose ratio between doses at Point A and interesting points in an important clinical factor in evaluating the treatment planning. This also serves as documentation of the dose to normal structures within the treatment volume. Authors conclude that obtained data are within acceptable ranges and routine simulation films of the bladder and rectum after administration of contrast media with dose calculations at interesting points provide important information for optimizing radiotherapy planning in the treatment of cervical carcinoma without increased time and effort or patient's discomfort.
Cervix Uteri ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Recently there has been attempts to develop hospital information system including order communicating system, patient tracing system, tumor registry system, office automation system and picture archiving and communication system(PACS). The authors devloped a practical system that was operated via order communication system of Yeungnam University Hospital. The system provided us the 'speed, accuracy, reliability, retention, economy and wide applicability through practical test. So we believed that this system would be one of standard computerized programs in radiation oncology practice and providing widely usable data for clinical statistics, medical record, tumor registry system and clinical researches.
Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Office Automation ; Radiation Oncology*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the effects of x-irradiation on the expression of the novel glutathione S-transferase K1 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human glutathione S-transferase K1 (hGSTK1) DNA was purified and ligated to a pcDNA3.1/Myc-His(+) vector for the overexpression of hGSTK1 gene. MCF-7 cells were transfected with or without the recombinant hGSTK1 gene, and irradiated with 6 MV x-ray. After incubation of 14 days, cell survival was measured and compared. The expression of hGSTK1 and the effect of x- irradiation on hGSTK1 expression were also estimated in MCF-7 cells transfected with or without the hGSTK1 gene by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Following 2 to 12 Gy of x-irradiation, the cell survivals were higher in the MCF-7 cells transfected with the hGSTK1 gene than in those without transfection. Despite the higher cell survival in the hGSTK1-transfected cells, RT-PCR for hGSTK1 mRNA revealed no significant differences according to radiation dose, fractionation, and time after irradiation. CONCLUSION: The MCF-7 cells transfected with the hGSTK1 gene showed higher cell survival than those without transfection of the gene. The hGSTK1 gene might be associated with the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 cell line and further analysis should be needed.
Cell Survival ; DNA ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells* ; Radiation Tolerance ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection

In electron therapy, low melting point alloy is used for shaping of the field. Electron field shaping material affect the output factor as well as the collimator system. The output factors of electron beams for shaped fields from NELAC-1018 were measured using ionization chamber of Farmer type in water phantom. The output factors of electron beams depend on the incident energy, inherent collimator system and the size of shaped field. Obtained results were followings. 1. In the smaller applicator, output varied extremely according to extent of collimator opening. 2. The higher energy, the output is less varied according to treatment field at small field.
Alloys ; Farmers ; Freezing ; Water

The stereotactic radiosurgery using ionizing radiation of high energy is a technique for exadicating intracranial small tumors, which are inaccessible or unsuitable for open surgical technique. For such a small field radiosurgery, TLD or film dosimetry is essential. The three dimensional dose planning of radiosurgery was performed with dose planning computer system (Therac 2300). The target dose distribution and its error according to patient position were discussed. And were measured of circular cone which specially designed in our Hospital. The position error of Rando Phantom compared with CT were 0.4 mm in the AP-LAT section and in the AP-VERT section, 1.0 mm in the AP-VERT 45°section. The ratio of accuracy of the gantry and couch rotation were 1.5 mm diameter for central axis of 18MeV linear accelerator. Our study suggested that radiosurgery of small field in out department will be appropriate for clinical application.
Computer Systems ; Film Dosimetry ; Humans ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiosurgery*

Uterine cervical cancer is the most common malignancy in Korean women. In spite of recent development of early diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, about 40% of treated patient will develop relapse. So more aggressive local treatment such as more extensive surgery and higher radiation dose and administration of systemic chemotherapy will promote the curability but treatment related complications cannot be avoidable. We used 22 cases of early cervical cancer, treated with surgery and post-operative radiotherapy, clinical data of these patients were analyzed to determine relationship between clinical parameters and final outcome. Three out of 22 cases revealed relapse and one patient showed rectovaginal fistula and another patient showed small bowel obstruction and the other patient showed rectal obstruction. Two out of three recurrence were stage IIa and the other one case was stage Ib adenocarcinoma with lymphovascular involvement. Nineteen out of 22 cases were followed without remarkable side effect or treatment related complication or sequelae. We concluded that out treatment policy was safe and effective to eradicate high risk postoperative cervical cancer with acceptable side effects or complication.
Adenocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Radiotherapy* ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Total 21 patients with airway obstruction from lung cancer treated with radiotherapy at Department of Therapeuctic Radiology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, between April 1986 and December 1988 are retrospectively analyzed by means of roentgenologic findings. Obtained results are as follows. 1. 15 out of 21 patients (71%) showed complete or partial response. 2. Patients with small cell lung cancer showed 100% response in spite of low dose (30 GY/10 fractions.) 3. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with 50 GY or over showed better response than below 45 GY or below. 4. There is no relationship between the response and site of airway obstruction. These date suggested that high dose irradiation is more effective in the management of airway obstruction from lung cancer and meticulous radiotherapy planning with appropriate protection of normal lung and critical organs should be investigated in order to maximize radiation effect and minimize side effect, complication or sequelae.
Airway Obstruction* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Radiation Effects* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

In recent years there has been a growing interest in total body, hemibody, total lymphoid irradiation. For refractory leukemia or lymphoma patients, various techniques and dose regimens were introduced, including high dose total body irradiation for destruction of leukemic or bone marrow cells and immunosuppression prior to bone marrow transplantation, and low dose total body irradiation for treatment of lymphocytic leukemias or lymphomas. Accurate provision for specified dose and the desired homogeneity are essential before clinical total body irradiation. Purposes of this paper are to discuss calibrating Cobalt Unit in 3m distance using Rando Phantom, to compare calculated dose, calibrated dose, and compensating filters for homogeneous dose distribution in the head and neck, the lung and the pelvis. Results were following. 1. Measured dose on the lung was 6% higher than on the abdomen. Measured dose on the head (10%) and neck (18%) were higher than the abdomen because of thinness. Pelvic dose was measured 12% less than the abdomen. Those date suggest that compensating filter was essential. 2. Measured dose according to distance was 3% less than calculated dose which suggest that all doses in clinical use should be compared with calculated dose for minimizing error.
Abdomen ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cobalt ; Head ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; Lung ; Lymphatic Irradiation ; Lymphoma ; Neck ; Pelvis ; Thinness ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

Radiotherapeutically, nasopharyngeal caner is an important disease in Korea. Because of its blind anatomic location, early detection is relatively uncommon. Clinically, most of cases are locally advanced and nodal involvements are common. Recently better understanding of nature of the disease and improvement of radio – therapy technique permit better treatment result, including locoregional control and survival rate, and minimal normal tissue damages comparing with previously published date. We analyzed 31 patients of pathologically proven and previously untreated naso – pharyngeal carcinoma with different treatment techniques, retrospectively. Minimal and maximal follow up period of the survivor is 6 months and 68 months, respectively. Thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma are included in this analysis. The median age is 49 years (range from 20 to 64 years). Twenty two patients are stage III. Eleven patients are treated with radiotherapy alone and 20 are treated with combined modalities treatment. The degree of response after radiotherapy are categorized by 3-classes, i,e. complete response, partial response. In spite of similarities of complete response rate and 1-year survival rate between two different treatment techniques, those patients with undifferentiated carcinoma appear to benefit from the adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, systemic failure is more suggest that adjuvant therapy in the radiotherapeutic management of nasopharyngeal cancer needs additional research according to histologic types and future extensive clinical trials.
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Survivors