Fig. 3
From: IMRT delivers lower radiation doses to dental structures than 3DRT in head and neck cancer patients
Mean of the maximum and of the average dental doses delivered by 3DRT and IMRT according to the dental groups investigated. a In the group of patients treated with 3DRT, molars received significantly higher doses (maximum and average doses) than pre-molar and anterior teeth, whereas pre-molars received significantly more radiation (maximum and average doses) than anterior teeth. Legends: * Statistically significant difference according to One-way ANOVA variance test. Different letters represent statistically different groups according to Tukey’s Post Hoc test. Mean of the maximum doses: Anteriors 31.74 Gy (±23.68 Gy), pre-molars 43.67 Gy (±23.49 Gy) and molars 58.02 Gy (±20.99 Gy). Mean of the average doses: Anteriors 25.20 Gy (±23.03 Gy), pre-molars 36.82 Gy (±23.24 Gy) and molars 50.75 Gy (±21.30 Gy). b In the group of patients treated with IMRT, molars also received significantly higher doses (maximum and average doses) than pre-molar and anterior teeth, but there was no significant difference between the last two groups. Legends: * Statistically significant difference according to One-way ANOVA variance test. Different letters represent statistically different groups according to Tukey’s Post Hoc test. Mean of the maximum doses: Anteriors 38.19 Gy (±17.30 Gy), pre-molars 39.39 Gy (±17.41 Gy) and molars 49.34 Gy (±16.63 Gy). Mean of the average doses: Anteriors 28.14 Gy (±14.35 Gy), pre-molars 32.43 Gy (±15.18 Gy) and molars 38.74 Gy (±15.36 Gy). c When we compared dental groups according to the technique used, we observed that in patients treated with 3DRT molars received significantly more radiation (maximum and average doses) than those treated with IMRT. Legends: * Statistically significant difference according to t-test