Radiotherapy of tongue cancer using an intraoral stent: a pilot study

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of an intraoral stent (10 and 20 mm thickness) in radiotherapy of tongue cancer, and to measure the reduction in acute mucositis in the palate. Materials and method: There were six patients in the intervention group, and seven patients in the control group. Target coverage was measured by the minimum dose covering 98% of the clinical target volume (CTV). Data were collected from the planning CT and daily cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT). Results: The 10 and 20 mm stent yielded a mean distance of 26 and 36 mm, respectively, between the tongue and the hard palate. We found comparable dose coverage of the CTV in the treatment plan, and on the CBCT. The stent reduced mean dose to the hard palate by 61.0% (p = 0.002). Dose to the soft palate was not reduced (p = 0.18). Average Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) mucositis scores of the hard palate were 0 and 0.8 in the intervention and control group, respectively. The mucositis scores of the soft palate were 1.2 and 1.8. Findings: Use of an intraoral stent substantially reduced the dose to the hard palate. CTV coverage was maintained. We did not find any significant reduction in visually scored radiation-induced mucositis.