Executive summary

This review focused on the impact of PBT on dentofacial development in pediatric patients treated for cancer in the head and neck region. This review included 11 studies with which 8 studies reported facial asymmetry and 6 reported dental abnormalities. However, there is no agreed approach for the identification and classification of dentofacial anomalies. There may potentially be an increased concern of facial deformation with PBT compared to XRT due to the absence of exit dose. This differential radiation dose to ipsilateral and contralateral bony structures may result in greater facial deformation. The authors concluded that considering both the poor study reporting and limited patient numbers, it is not possible to determine the effect of cancer diagnosis, chronological age at treatment, radiation dose or treatment modality on the incidence of facial deformation or dental development anomalies.

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