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Technique for construction of dental molds for high‐dose‐rate remote brachytherapy
Author(s) -
Jolly Daniel E.,
Nag Subir
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1992.tb00452.x
Subject(s) - brachytherapy , medicine , radiation oncologist , dosimetry , radiation treatment planning , nuclear medicine , head and neck cancer , dose rate , radiation therapy , medical physics , head and neck , radiology , surgery
High‐dose‐rate remote (HDR) brachytherapy eliminates radiation exposure hazard to personnel, allows for optimum dosage planning (dosimetry), and delivers high radiation dose close to the tumor in only a few minutes. The catheters can be Incorporated into a fixed geometry within a mold, allowing for repeated treatments without the need for repeated implantation of radioactive Isotopes or repeated dosimetry. This article presents the use of HDR brachytherapy in three patients to Illustrate the advantages of HDR brachytherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancers in the following circumstances: (a) for outpatient therapy, (b) as an addition to or potentiation of external beam irradiation, (c) for preservation of function of regional structures, (d) for optimization of dosimetry, and (e) for palliation. It requires close interaction among the radiation oncologist, head and neck surgeon, and the dental oncologist and/or maxillofacial prosthodontist in order for optimum benefit for the patient to be achieved.