open access
Management of intraoral stents for radiotherapy during COVID-19 pandemic
open access
Abstract
Radiotherapy is being performed in many situations as a curative approach for head and neck cancer instead of surgery due to the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. A recent publication reported that even hypofractionation was being conducted in order to reduce the daily exposure of both patients and the medical staff involved in cancer therapies. As a result, dental teams may be requested more frequently than usual to fabricate intraoral stents (IOS). Given that IOS may be a potential source of COVID-19 contagion, the main purpose of the present correspondence is to offer a guide on how health professionals may be safely presented in the room, on the management of the IOS and also how to sanitize the stents.
Abstract
Radiotherapy is being performed in many situations as a curative approach for head and neck cancer instead of surgery due to the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. A recent publication reported that even hypofractionation was being conducted in order to reduce the daily exposure of both patients and the medical staff involved in cancer therapies. As a result, dental teams may be requested more frequently than usual to fabricate intraoral stents (IOS). Given that IOS may be a potential source of COVID-19 contagion, the main purpose of the present correspondence is to offer a guide on how health professionals may be safely presented in the room, on the management of the IOS and also how to sanitize the stents.
Keywords
radiotherapy; intraoral stents; oral cancer


Title
Management of intraoral stents for radiotherapy during COVID-19 pandemic
Journal
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy
Issue
Article type
Technical note
Pages
159-161
Published online
2021-01-22
DOI
10.5603/RPOR.a2021.0021
Bibliographic record
Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2021;26(1):159-161.
Keywords
radiotherapy
intraoral stents
oral cancer
Authors
Aljomar José Vechiato Filho
Karina Morais Faria
Maria Cecília Querido de Oliveira
Ariadne Padilha de Andrade
Ana Carolina Prado-Ribeiro
Alan Roger Santos-Silva
Alvin G. Wee
Thais Bianca Brandão


- Chaves AL, Castro AF, Marta GN, et al. Emergency changes in international guidelines on treatment for head and neck cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oral Oncol. 2020; 107: 104734.
- Yang Y, Soh HY, Cai ZG, et al. Experience of Diagnosing and Managing Patients in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery during the Prevention and Control Period of the New Coronavirus Pneumonia. Chin J Dent Res. 2020; 23(1): 57–62.
- Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, et al. Transmission routes of 2019-nCoV and controls in dental practice. Int J Oral Sci. 2020; 12(1): 9.
- Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, et al. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. J Hosp Infect. 2020; 104(3): 246–251.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Infection prevention and control during healthcare when COVID-19 is suspected. Interim guidance. https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125 (09 April 2020).
- Elting LS, Cooksley CD, Chambers MS, et al. Risk, outcomes, and costs of radiation-induced oral mucositis among patients with head-and-neck malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007; 68(4): 1110–1120.