Testing new technology to replace tight head and neck masks during cancer radiation

This early-stage study is testing whether a new surface monitoring technology can do the job of the tight thermoplastic masks that patients currently wear during head and neck cancer radiation therapy. The technology uses cameras or sensors to track your position instead of using a restrictive mask. Researchers want to see if this approach is practical and safe, and whether it reduces patient anxiety and discomfort.

Standard radiation masks are uncomfortable, can cause anxiety, and sometimes need to be adjusted during treatment if a patient loses weight or the tumor shrinks. Researchers believe surface monitoring technology could give patients the same precise positioning without the physical and emotional burden of wearing a tight mask.