DOSE PERTURBATION RESULTING FROM GOLD FILLINGS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS

Among patients who are being treated for head and neck cancers, those with gold-filled teeth have earlier acute radiation reactions in the lateral surface of the tongue and buccal mucosa adjacent to their gold fillings than patients with no gold filled teeth. An investigation to determine the cause of this reaction revealed a rapid increase in the dose adjacent to the metal teeth. This high dose zone was found to be less than 2 mm in tissue. This overdosage can be prevented by separating the gold-filled teeth from the oral mucosa with dental caps made of tissue equivalent material. © 1979.