Adaptation of vacuum-assisted mouthpiece head immobilization system for precision infant brain radiation therapy

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2016
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Kenneth Wong, Justine Cheng, Kristine Bowlin, Arthur Olch
PurposeTo describe an adaptation of a commercially available mouthpiece for vacuum-assisted mouthpiece immobilization for radiation therapy in infants.Methods and materialsAn infant diagnosed with a brain tumor required radiation therapy. After reviewing dental literature about obturators, we designed a modification for the smallest commercially available mouthpiece tray.ResultsThe patient was simulated with the adapted mouthpiece tray. We achieved excellent immobilization and had small daily image-guided treatment position shifts. Our patient tolerated treatment well without injury to oral cavity or mucosa.ConclusionsHead immobilization with a vacuum-assisted modified mouthpiece has not been described in infants. Our modification is a novel and safe, and permits effective and accurate immobilization for infants for radiation therapy. New manufacturing technologies may allow creation of individualized mouthpieces.



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