open access
Intraoral stents in preventing adverse radiotherapeutic effects in lip cancer patients
open access
Abstract
Aim
To fabricate and evaluate the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents to minimize the potential side effects of radiation on oral tissues in patients with early stages of lip cancer.
Background
Lower lip cancer is a common tumor found almost exclusively in middle-aged and elderly males. Surgery is the most common treatment of choice, although for less extensive lesions, exclusive radiotherapy may be preferred. Some studies have found that the use of intraoral stents in patients with intraoral cancer (e.g., of the tongue or floor of the mouth) obtained favorable results in preventing unnecessary radiation doses to adjacent normal tissue and reducing oral complications. However, studies investigating the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents in patients with lip cancer have not been reported in the literature.
Materials and methods
Six patients with early stage lip cancer were eligible for curative radiotherapy and personalized intraoral stents. The stents were fabricated and all participants were evaluated for the occurrence of oral complications.
Results
The regions of the oral mucosa protected from radiation by intraoral stents showed no mucositis. One patient complained of mild oral dryness but without interference in habits. At follow-up, none of the patients had late xerostomia or signs of dental caries by radiation.
Conclusions
The use of individualized intraoral stents was shown to be promising in reducing the adverse effects of radiation therapy in lip cancer patients. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team during oncological therapy.
Abstract
Aim
To fabricate and evaluate the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents to minimize the potential side effects of radiation on oral tissues in patients with early stages of lip cancer.
Background
Lower lip cancer is a common tumor found almost exclusively in middle-aged and elderly males. Surgery is the most common treatment of choice, although for less extensive lesions, exclusive radiotherapy may be preferred. Some studies have found that the use of intraoral stents in patients with intraoral cancer (e.g., of the tongue or floor of the mouth) obtained favorable results in preventing unnecessary radiation doses to adjacent normal tissue and reducing oral complications. However, studies investigating the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents in patients with lip cancer have not been reported in the literature.
Materials and methods
Six patients with early stage lip cancer were eligible for curative radiotherapy and personalized intraoral stents. The stents were fabricated and all participants were evaluated for the occurrence of oral complications.
Results
The regions of the oral mucosa protected from radiation by intraoral stents showed no mucositis. One patient complained of mild oral dryness but without interference in habits. At follow-up, none of the patients had late xerostomia or signs of dental caries by radiation.
Conclusions
The use of individualized intraoral stents was shown to be promising in reducing the adverse effects of radiation therapy in lip cancer patients. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team during oncological therapy.
Keywords
Head and neck cancer; Lip cancer; Radiotherapy; Stents; Side effects
About this articleTitle
Intraoral stents in preventing adverse radiotherapeutic effects in lip cancer patients
Journal
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy
Issue
Pages
450-454
Published online
2017-11-01
DOI
10.1016/j.rpor.2017.08.003
Bibliographic record
Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2017;22(6):450-454.
Keywords
Head and neck cancer
Lip cancer
Radiotherapy
Stents
Side effects
Authors
Breno A. Rocha
Lucianne M.C. Lima
Lívia M.R. Paranaíba
Angel da Martinez
Maria Betânia Pires
Edimilson M. de Freitas
Camilla V. Vilas Boas
Mário R. de Melo Filho