Purpose: To explore the effects of personalized oral stents in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment.
Methods: Totally 108 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with IMRT at Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected. Using a random number table method, the patients were divided into experimental group (n=54) using personalized oral stents and control group (n=54) using simple mouthpieces. The dosimetry of clinical target volumes (CTV), normal oral tissues, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), pain level evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS ), grades of oral mucositis, xerostomia scores, taste scores, oral health impact profile (OHIP) scores and incidence of complications(dental caries, xerostomia, taste disorders, oral candidiasis, osteomyelitis of the jaw) were compared between the two groups. SPSS 23.0 software package was used for statistical analysis.
Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in average received dose and CI, HI values on CTV and the tongue(P＞0.05); however, the experimental group showed a lower average received dose on the mandible, mandibular teeth, and bilateral parotid glands compared to the control group(P＜0.05). After treatment, the experimental group had significantly lower scores in VAS, grades of oral mucositis, xerostomia evaluation, OHIP and frequency of complications (P＜0.05). The taste scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05).
Conclusions: Personalized oral stents significantly reduce the radiation dose to oral sites in IMRT treatment, decrease pain and other oral complications, and improve patients' quality of life.