title: Rapid prototyping technique for creating a radiation shield.
abstract: Radiation therapy for the treatment of head and neck skin cancer poses challenges because of the inherently uneven tissue topography of the face and the need to protect surrounding unaffected tissues. The use of a customized radiation shield that combines tissue-equivalent bolus material with protective material addresses these issues. This article describes a technique using rapid prototyping to design and fabricate an extraoral radiation shield. This innovative application provides an expedient, standardized approach for delivering radiotherapy to the face, which is not only more comfortable for the patient, but allows more precise treatment delivery.
authors.affiliation: Bronx VAMC, Bronx, NY and Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, Division of Prosthodontics, New York, NY 10032, USA. cbz2001@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zemnick
authors.forename: Shermian A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Woodhouse
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gewanter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raphael
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Piro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005145:Face; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D047569:Laser Scanning Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D041622:Tomography, Optical / Q000379:methods*