Radiation dose distribution in the external auditory canal with different prosthetic materials: a clinical report

Radiotherapy (RT) is an essential component of cancer treatment and aims to deliver higher doses at target volumes and lower doses to surrounding organs to achieve higher tumor control with fewer side effects. Significant dose heterogeneities can occur during treatment of irregular surfaces with electron beams, especially in head, neck, and breast tissue. The external ear and external auditory canal have irregular surfaces, which may cause dose heterogeneity, primarily resulting in excessive doses in the normal tissues lining and adjacent to the ear canal. The purpose of this clinical report is to describe the use of an acrylic resin and an elastomeric material to fill the air cavities of the external auditory canal and compare the dosimetric parameters. The complications that occur after electron-beam therapy of the ear canal can be significantly reduced by filling the ear cavity with acrylic resin, which is a simple, feasible, and cost-effective method.