title: Technique for construction of dental molds for high-dose-rate remote brachytherapy.
abstract: High-dose-rate remote (HDR) brachytherapy eliminates radiation exposure hazard to personnel, allows for optimum dosage planning (dosimetry), and delivers high radiation dose close to the tumor in only a few minutes. The catheters can be incorporated into a fixed geometry within a mold, allowing for repeated treatments without the need for repeated implantation of radioactive isotopes or repeated dosimetry. This article presents the use of HDR brachytherapy in three patients to illustrate the advantages of HDR brachytherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancers in the following circumstances: (a) for outpatient therapy, (b) as an addition to or potentiation of external beam irradiation, (c) for preservation of function of regional structures, (d) for optimization of dosimetry, and (e) for palliation. It requires close interaction among the radiation oncologist, head and neck surgeon, and the dental oncologist and/or maxillofacial prosthodontist in order for optimum benefit for the patient to be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Section of Community Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nag
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins