High-dose-rate brachytherapy for patients with maxillary gingival carcinoma using a novel customized intraoral mold technique

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel customized intraoral mold treatment for maxillary gingival carcinoma (UGC).

Study design: Two patients with UGC were treated as salvage therapy using this technique. The mold was designed to keep normal soft tissues adjacent to the tumor away from the radioactive source as much as possible, and it was shielded by lead. The radiation dose on the buccal mucosa and tongue was measured at the inner and outer surfaces of the intraoral mold before starting high-dose-rate brachytherapy by the remote afterloading system, and was reduced to almost one tenth.

Results: The patient had no recurrence and no severe adverse effects on the normal soft tissue adjacent to the tumor until the end of the follow-up period.

Conclusion: High-dose-rate brachytherapy using the novel customized intraoral mold might be a treatment option of not only salvage therapy, but definitive therapy of UGC.