The aim of the study is to evaluate whether open-face masks improve patient comfort/preference whilst maintaining immobilization performance as known for closed masks in patients undergoing whole or partial cranial radiotherapy.
Upon randomization, patients will be begin treatment either with an open-face mask (A) or closed mask (B). Two individual immobilization masks - the open-face and closed masks - will be fabricated for every single patient. During the 1st half of treatment the randomly assigned mask will be used followed by using another mask for the 2nd half of treatment. Discomfort/pain/anxiety and mask preference will be scored during treatment with a questionnaire.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Immobilization
Department of Radiation Oncology
Zurich, Switzerland
Patient discomfort with the two immobilization masks
Patient discomfort measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0-10 with "no discomfort" (scored as 0) and "extreme discomfort" (scored as 10).
Time frame: Change in patient discomfort through the course of radiation therapy, up to 6 weeks
Mask preference
Mask preference measured with the Yes/No questionnaire. Upon completion of radiation therapy patients will be asked which of the two immobilization masks they prefer - either Yes or No to one of the used masks.
Time frame: At completion of radiation therapy, up to 6 weeks depending on radiation dose fractionation
Treatment set-up accuracy
Measured with planar kilovoltage (kV) imaging
Time frame: Through the course of radiation therapy, up to 6 weeks
Treatment intra-fraction accuracy
Measured with an optic surface imaging (OSI) system
Time frame: Through the course of radiation therapy, up to 6 weeks
Immobilization-mask-induced severe adverse events during treatment
Measured with CTCAE version 5.0
Time frame: From the baseline to 3 months post-treatment
Location of discomfort on the head/face
Measured with the questionnaire consisting of a head/face diagram divided in 8 regions
Time frame: Changes in location of discomfort on the head/face through the course of radiation therapy up to 6 weeks
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