Dosimetric impact of tracheostomy devices in head and neck cancer patients

摘要

The tracheostomy site and adjacent skin is at risk for recurrence in headeck squamous cell cancer patients. The tracheostomy tube is an device located directly over the tracheostomy site and may have clinical implications on the radiation dose delivered to the peristomal region. This study aimed to investigate this effect by comparing the prescribed treatment planning dose with the actual dose to the peristomal clinical target region. A retrospective, dosimetric study was performed with approval of the institutional research ethics board.