Treatment planning software to protect dental structure, salivary glands, and nontarget tissue in head and neck cancer patients: a scoping review

Key Points

• Eclipse treatment planning software showed consistent positive outcomes in preserving salivary glands, yet results varied for nontarget tissues.
• Dental structures should receive more attention in treatment planning strategies, as current methods remain underexplored.
• Observational analysis of treatment planning software across multiple studies highlights the importance of protecting critical tissues during therapy.
• Further investigation into dental preservation could enhance treatment outcomes for head and neck cancer patients, indicating a gap in existing research.