Plastic material used to optimize radiotherapy of head and neck tumors and the mammary carcinoma.

In order to improve head and neck tumor therapy, face masks were developed. The physical and mechanical properties of 11 apparently suitable materials were tested using a phantom. According to our studies "HEXCELITE" (supplied by Medimex, Hamburg, F.R.G.) proved to be the best material. Plastic breast molds were made to optimize the dose distribution for radiation therapy with fast electrons of post-mastectomy breast tumors. Here too the mechanical and physical properties of nine different materials were tested. The most suitable of these proved to be the gel mat "PRIMAMED" (supplied by Schülke and Mayr, Norderstedt, F.R.G.). The two materials mentioned have been well tolerated by more than 200 patients.