We analyzed on chromosome of peripheral blood cell in comparison to hematological indices from 63 peoples between 1 and 31 years of irradiation exposure. The result showed that the aberrating rate was high in studied groups than control group significantly, especially, the rate of dysenteric choromosome. The hematological alteration is not clear yet.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Whole-Body Irradiation

This paper describes the basic date measurements for total body irradiation with 6 Mv photon beam including compensators designs. The technique uses bilateral opposing field with tissue compensators for the head, neck, lungs, and legs from the hip to toes. In vivo dosimetry was carried out for determining absorbed dose at various regions in 7 patients using diode detectors (MULTIDOSE, Model 9310, MULTIDATA Co., USA). As a results, the dose uniformity of+/-3.5%(generally, within+/-10%) can be achieved with our total body irradiation technique.
Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Lung ; Neck ; Toes ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of low-dose whole body irradiation (WBI) for treatment of myasthenia gravis(MG) and changes of immunological parameters. According to MG protocol of low dose WBI, eleven patients were selected and followed up for at least one year. Clinical status and immunological parameters were assessed at the time of pretreatment (baseline) and 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 months after initial dose irradiation. The improvement began five weeks after WBI and lasted for 12-month follow-up in 7 patients (good responders) Clinical improvement and immunological changes were more pronounced in good responders. So, it is suggested that low dose WBI may have the role in the treatment of the MG as an another therapeutic modality.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

In total body irradiation (TBI) for leukemia, we have a two methode. One is a AP (anterior-posterior) method and the other is a Lateral methode. Our hospital used lateral methode. TBI must consider about body contour, because of homogeneous dose distribution. For compensation about irregular body contour, we use compensator. For TBI treatment, we must be considered, accurate manufacture of compensator and accurate calculation of dose. We developed the automatic program for TBI. This program accomplished for compensator design and dose calculation for irregular body. This program was developed for uses to use in a windows environment using the IDL language. In this program, it use energy data for each energy: TMR, output factor, inverse square law, spoiler, field size factor. This program reduces the error to happen due to the manual. As a development of program, we could decrease the time of treatment plan and care the patient accurately.
Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Leukemia ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

The acute effects of variable dos rates to total body irradiation (TBI) were investigated with 600 cgy of single exposure in the mice as a preclinical model. Total 80 mice (ICR) were used. Twenty of which served as controls, receiving no irradiation. All irradiated mice showed a universal decline in their weight and white blood cell count. The degree of weight loss and leukopenia were similar at 3 different dos rate but slightly prominent with 15 cgy/minute group. The degree of recovery among the groups showed no dose rate dependence. Our results suggest that TBI with 15 cgy/minute may be applicable for clinical therapy with careful evaluation of patient's condition.
Animals ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukopenia ; Mice* ; Weight Loss ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

Myasthenia Gravis can be considered a lymphocyte dyscrasia. We report four cases of myasLhenia gravis, who were treated with whole body irradiation. Total of 180 rad was delivered in 9 fractions for 3 weeks with every other day treabmenL Three out of four cases showed remarkable symptomatic improvement on follow-up during 3 months.
Follow-Up Studies ; Lymphocytes ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Pilot Projects* ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study is to develop new payment rates for services of Radiation Oncology, considering costs of treating patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey of forty hospitals has been conducted in order to analyze the costs of treating patients. Before conducting the survey, we evaluated and reclassified the individual service items currently using as payments units on the fee-for-service reimbursement system. This study embodies the analysis of replies received from the twenty four hospitals. The survey contains informations about the hospitals' costs of 1995 for the reclassified service items on Radiation Oncology. After we adjust the hospital costs by the operating rate of medical equipment, we compare the adjusted costs with the current payment rates of individual services. RESULTS: The current payment rates were 5.05-6.58 times lower than the adjusted costs in treatment planning services, 2.22 times lower in block making service, 1.57-2.86 times lower in external beam irradiation services, 3.82-5.01 times lower in intracavitary and interstitial irradiation and 1.12- 2.55 times lower in total body irradiation. CONCLUSION: We could conclude that the current payment system on Radiation Oncology does not only reflect the costs of treating patients appropriately but also classify the service items correctly. For an example, when the appropriate costs and classification are applied to TBI, the payment rates of TBI should be increased five times more than current level.
Classification* ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Hospital Costs ; Humans ; Radiation Oncology* ; Whole-Body Irradiation

We studied retrospectively on clinical assessment of treatment in myasthenic patients who visited on our department regularly since 1985. They were divided as a group based on therapeutic modalities such as a thymectomy, steroid therapy. Combined therapy(steroid and thymectomy), plasma exchange. And whole body irradiation. We evluated clinical effectiveness of these therapeutic modalities and come up with following conclusions. Alltherapeutic modalities showed effectiveness. In steroid therapy, thymectomy and the combined therapy. W needed at least 6-24 months for clinical improvement. In thymectomy, rognosis was depend on the number of germinal centers. In whole body irradiation. Effectiveness was shown at 5h week and continued to 6th to 12th months. We also noted that symptomatic improvement was correlated with decreased lymphocyte counts. The effect of plasma exchange was rapid but only short duration.
Germinal Center ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Plasma Exchange ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymectomy ; Whole-Body Irradiation

PURPOSE: Liquid beta emitter filled in angioplasty balloon could be used to perform endovascular balloon brachytherapy to prevent coronary artery restenosis. We investigated the dosimetry for Re-188-DTPA liquid-filled balloon and medical internal radiation dosimetry in case of balloon leakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We estimated radiation dose from an angioplasty balloon (20 mm lengfh, 3 mm diameter cylinder) to the adjacent vessel wall using Monte Carlo EGS4 code. We obtained time-activity curves of kidneys in normal dog and calculated Tmax, T1/2. Using MIRDOSE3 program, we estimated absorbed doses to the major organs (kidneys, bladder) and the whole body when we assumed that balloon leaked all the isotope contained. RESULTS: The radiation dose was 17.5 Gy at the balloon surface when we applied 3,700 MBq/ml of Re-188 for 100 seconds. Fifty percent of the energy deposited within 1 mm from the balloon surface. The estimated internal dose to the whole body was 0.005 mGy/MBq and 18.5 mGy for the spillage of 3,700 MBq of Re-188. CONCLUSION: We suggest that Re-188-DTPA can be used for endovascular balloon brachytherapy to inhibit coronary artery restenosis after angioplasty with tolerable whole body radiation dose in case of balloon rupture.
Angioplasty* ; Animals ; Brachytherapy* ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs ; Kidney ; Radiometry ; Rupture ; Whole-Body Irradiation

Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory muscular disease of presumed autoimmune origin. Many possible interventions are available to treat patients with these conditions including corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, plasnapheresis, and total body irradiation. But these therapies are not always effective, and they may be associated with certain serious side effects. Recently polyvalent. intravenous gammaglohulin(IVGG) has been tried with success in inflammatory myopathies after failure of traditional treatment We report a 8-year-old female patient with juvenile dermatomyositis who improved dramatically after alternative IVGG treatment due to side effects of steroid.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Child ; Dermatomyositis* ; Female ; Humans ; Muscular Diseases ; Myositis ; Whole-Body Irradiation