High-dose-rate mold brachytherapy of early gingival carcinoma: a clinical report

Two elderly edentulous patients with the diagnosis of early stage cancer of the upper gingiva were treated by customized dental mold brachytherapy. Locoregional tumor control was achieved in both patients. One patient is alive without any evidence of disease 36 months after treatment, the other patient died of distant metastasis shortly after brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, being easy to apply with short treatment time and good acute tolerance, is a good choice and effective modality for the management of early stage gingival cancer, particularly in elderly patients.