Comparative Dosimetric Analysis of Jaw Tracking Versus Non-Jaw Tracking Techniques in Head and Neck and Brain Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Cancers affecting the head, neck, and brain are highly prevalent and pose a significant threat to human society. Radiation therapy is the primary treatment modality for these types of tumors, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) being the prominent methods. However, concerns regarding the protection of organs at risk (OARs) persist when using these techniques. To address this, the use of the jaw tracking technique in conjunction with IMRT and VMAT, along with minimizing radiation leakage between leaves, is proposed as a protective measure. Our study aimed to comprehensively examine the quantitative and qualitative impact of jaw tracking on dose reduction in the normal tissues of patients with head, neck, and brain cancers. A systematic literature search was conducted via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to May 2023, resulting in the identification of 674 relevant studies. After applying our criteria, only 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. Our findings indicate that the jaw tracking technique can effectively determine the dose reaching the OAR. However, further research with a larger sample size is necessary to validate and explore further base on these results.