title: A customized head and neck support system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a customized head and neck immobilization system for patients receiving radiotherapy including a head support that conforms to the posterior contour of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  The system includes a customized headrest to support the posterior head and neck. This is fixed to a thermoplastic face mask that molds to the anterior head/face contours. The shape of these customized head and neck supports were compared to "standard" supports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This system is comfortable for the patients and appears to be effective in reproducing the setup of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variability in the size and shape of the customized posterior supports exceeded that of "standard" headrests. It is our clinical impression that the customized supports improve reproducibility and are now a standard part of our immobilization system. The quantitative analysis of the customized headrests and some commonly used "standard" headrests suggests that the customized supports are better able to address variabilities in patient shape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bentel
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Sherouse
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000295:instrumentation*