The routine quality assurance (QA) procedure for a high-dose-rate (HDR) 192Ir radioactive source is an important task to provide appropriate brachytherapy. Traditionally, it has been difficult to obtain good quality images using the 192Ir source due to irradiation from the high-energy gamma rays. However, a direct-conversion flat-panel detector (d-FPD) has made it possible to confirm the locali...

Purpose To perform a comparative study of heterogeneities and finite patient dimension effects in 60Co and 192Ir high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Material and methods Clinically equivalent plans were prepared for 19 cases (8 breast, 5 esophagus, 6 gynecologic) using the Ir2.A85-2 and the Co0.A86 HDR sources, with a TG-43 based treatment planning system (TPS). Phase space files were obtaine...

BACKGROUND Several clinical trials indicate that intracoronary radiation is safe and effective for treatment of restenotic coronary arteries. We previously reported 6-month and 3-year clinical and angiographic follow-up demonstrating significant decreases in target lesion revascularization (TLR) and angiographic restenosis after gamma radiation of restenotic lesions. The objective of this study...

BACKGROUND Although early trials indicate the treatment of restenosis with radiation therapy is safe and effective, the long-term impact of this new technology has been questioned. The possibility of late untoward consequences, such as aneurysm formation, perforation, and accelerated vascular disease, is of significant concern. Furthermore, it is not known whether the beneficial effects of radi...

An experimental determination of the energy correction factor for alanine/paraffin pellets in the 192Ir spectrum at varying distances from the source is presented. Alanine dosimeters were irradiated in water under full scatter conditions with a high dose rate (HDR) 192Ir source (Flexisource), using a dedicated holder. Up to six line sources (catheters) fit in a regular pattern at fixed radial d...

High dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) using 192Ir sources is well accepted as an important treatment option and thus requires an accurate dosimetry standard. However, a dosimetry standard for the direct measurement of the absolute dose to water for this particular source type is currently not available. An improved standard for the absorbed dose to water based on Fricke dosimetry of HDR 192Ir brac...

PURPOSE To investigate beam quality correction, KQQ0 (r) and phantom scatter correction, Kphan (r) for lithium formate dosimeter as a function of distance r along the transverse axis of the high-energy brachytherapy sources 60Co, 137Cs, 192Ir and 169Yb using the Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system. MATERIALS AND METHODS The brachytherapy sources investigated in this study are BEBIG High Dose...

PURPOSE First experience and evaluation of relapses in group of patients after surgery with applied adjuvant HDR brachytherapy for recurrent tumor after incomplete excision of basal cell carcinoma of the lower eyelid and inner angle. METHODS Patients with recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the lower eyelid in year 2010. In 3 male patients with recurrent finding of basal cell after surgery we a...

Background: The effectiveness and safety of brachytherapy treatment is mainly concerned with the calibration of sources and their traceability to internationally accepted Standards. Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) does not offer calibration of ionization chambers with gamma-ray spectrum of high dose rate source 192Ir . This work has been carried out to calibrate the high dose rat...