title: A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of cerrobend shielding stents in preventing adverse radiotherapeutic effects in buccal carcinoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation stents made of Lipowitz metal or cerrobend alloy are commonly used to shield uninvolved tissues from electron beams used in therapeutic radiation treatment of head and neck cancers. However, studies investigating the efficacy of cerrobend shielding stent in patients with unilateral buccal carcinoma remain rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of cerrobend shielding stents in minimizing the potential adverse effects of radiation on oral tissues in buccal carcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty.eight participants were selected for the study based on predetermined inclusion criteria, out of which four participants were lost to follow-.up. Half of the remaining participants. (N = 12) were randomly given cerrobend shielding stent and the remaining 12 formed the control group. The effects of radiotherapy were evaluated by using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. (RTOG) 0435 Head and Neck adverse effects grading tool. All participants were evaluated for xerostomia, mucositis, dysphagia, salivary changes, dysguesia, pain, trismus and radiation caries at baseline and 1 and 3. months post.radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All adverse effects were higher in control compared to study group, with post therapy difference for pain in swallowing, salivary changes, mucositis, dysphagia, dry mouth and caries being statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cerrobend alloy can be used effectively as shielding stent to reduce the adverse effects associated with external beam radiation therapy in unilateral buccal carcinoma patients.
authors.forename: Karma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yangchen
authors.forename: Ramashanker
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddharth
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University UP, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Saumyendra V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Raghuwar D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Himanshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Niraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Shuchi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Kirti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Teethraj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C036799:ostalloy