ESTRO meets Asia 2024 - Abstract Book

S354

RTT – Patient care, preparation, immobilisation and IGRT verification protocols

ESTRO meets Asia 2024

These paintings were done by a radiation oncologist in our department after proper solidification of the mask. The process of each customization took only 10-15 minutes. The masks were then used from the first day of radiotherapy till completion of the treatment.

Results:

It is a well established fact that immobilization is one of the most important initial steps for radiotherapy. It helps to keep a check on unwanted movement by patient while on couch and to avoid set up errors during treatment, thus maintaining a desired balance between precise dose delivery to target and acceptable dose to surrounding critical structures. But, even with all the efforts, children may not comply with the instructions as they may get anxious and apprehensive towards the hospital surroundings, with the thermoplastic mask around their face and head. In such cases, sedation, counseling, play therapy have helped. [3] But use of anesthesia has its own requirements like pre-anesthetic checkups, unpredictability in outcomes and side effects. [4, 5] This simple method of mask customisation has shown a remarkable change in the attitude and treatment compliance of pediatric patients.This method resulted in no anxiety for treatment, no fear for huge radiation equipment, no need for sedatives or anesthesia, and most importantly it provided a fear- free completion of treatment. Even after completion of the treatment, children were eager to visit the outpatient department to get a glimpse of their favorite mask, thus resulting in zero drop in follow up too.

Image 2 : A child posing with his customised mask on the day of completion of treatment

Conclusion:

The “Be what you want to be” concept gives the children a sense of freedom and authority over their own treatment, even under complete supervision of physicians, as the mask chosen by them accompanies them throughout the whole treatment. In a busy oncology department like ours, it is difficult to get timely assistance from anesthesiologists. In such cases, customisations may serve as a faster and safer alternative with good treatment compliance, decreased apprehension and lesser children failing to follow up after radiotherapy.

Keywords: Customised Mask, Pediatric Brain tumor