[Titanium plates for mandibular reconstruction and radiotherapy]

Mandibular reconstruction plates are now used after cancer surgery in particular patients. This study assesses the irradiation of Titanium mandibular reconstruction plates in terms of both dosimetry and mid-term tolerance. Twenty patients with mandibular plates underwent radiotherapy (mean dose 60 Gy). The radiation dose on the patient itself was calculated with 3-dimensional treatment planning. A clinical and radiological evaluation of tolerance was made 6 months after the end of the treatment: intraoral and cutaneous healing and possible osteomyelitis. Mid-term tolerance was very satisfactory with only two failures at 6 months. When using parallel opposing fields, the overdosage into tissues was reduced to approximately 5 p. cent; and radiotherapy has probably no effect on titanium plate tolerance.