Spacers with boluses applied to various sites of oral squamous cell carcinoma: Technical note and retrospective case series

The present report describes a case series in which spacers with boluses were used at various sites in the oral cavity to enhance the therapeutic effect of radiation therapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In radiotherapy, the surface dose is reduced due to the build-up region of X-rays. In the present study, a bolus was used to complement the build-up region and increase the surface dose effect. A total of 7 patients with oral cancer from a primary care hospital underwent radiation therapy using spacers and added boluses to improve the surface dose effect. The spacer was made from a plastic splint and the bolus was connected to the splint with a quick self-curing resin. There were no complaints of pain or adverse events from the patients while wearing the intraoral splint. A total of 2 of the 7 patients were subsequently confirmed as having progressed disease, and the remaining 5 are currently being managed following a complete response to treatment. The spacers used at various sites of oral squamous cell carcinoma were safe and effective and did not cause any severe adverse effects.