Tongue Displacement Device in Decreasing the Radiation Dose to Tongue and Preventing Proton Beam Overshoot in Proton Therapy for Unilateral Head and Neck Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dosimetric characteristics a semi-customized tongue displacement device ( SC TDD) fabricated using 3D printer for patients receiving unilateral head and neck irradiation with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) assess its feasibility as beam stopper compared standard mouthpiece S MP). Seven consecutive patients, three tonsil cancer, four oral cavity cancer were included in retrospective study. Planning computed tomography (CT) images each patient acquired device. Both TDD MP plans generated single-field optimized IMPT. clinically relevant dose-volume parameters organs at risk (OARs), especially tongue, between plans. Additionally, stopper, dose contralateral mucosa (COM) that from sMP use. use scTDD resulted statistically significant decrease radiation COM sMP. median mean significantly reduced (18.3 Gy(RBE)) (22.9 p = 0.016). percentages volume doses 15 60 Gy(RBE) lower TDD. In COM, (2.9 vs. 7.9 Gy(RBE), 0.018) maximum (39.1 41.6 MP. effectively decreased undergoing IMPT acted protect normal tissues located behind target volume, such COM.