A technique for shielding electron beams used in radiotherapeutic management of head and neck cancer

One of the major complications of radiation therapy in the management of maxillofacial tumors is the postradiation damage to the healthy tissues adjacent to the tumors. The success of radiation therapy is often limited by the treatment sequelae. The use of shielding prostheses reduces the number of potential treatment sequelae caused by the administration of therapeutic radiation for head and neck tumors. A technique for shielding uninvolved tissues from external electron beams used in therapeutic radiation treatment of head and neck cancer is described. The materials required are readily available and the shielding prosthesis can be easily fabricated by any dentist with a thorough understanding of radiation therapy, dosimetry, and the goals of treatment with radiation therapy.