Application of individual lead shield in radiotherapy of eyelid tumor

In the treatment of the maxillofacial tumors, radiotherapy plays an important role in the achievement of good local control and to keep the normal shape and function. For the tumors occurring in or adjacent to the orbit, especially the tumors of eyelids, radiotherapy combined with/without surgery also yields better results than surgery alone, but the lens of the eye is a radiosensitive organ. Loss of vision could occur when radiation beam is directed at the eye, so radiotherapy prostheses must be used in the radiotherapy of eyelid tumor. An individual lead shield for the lens of eye was made for each of the 10 eyelid tumor patients and it was carefully placed in the conjunctival sac after anaesthesia with a few drops of oxybuprocaine (Benoxil) to avoid irradiation of the globe. The lead shield was applied to protect the normal surrounding structures. Excellent cosmetic and functional results were achieved during and after radiotherapy. (author)