title: [State of the art in radiotherapy of laryngeal and nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: Rapid evolution in radiological diagnostic and therapeutic technology has developed the precision radiation therapy in the past two decades. The new technology has improved the loco-regional control of tumor, survival as a result of better loco-regional control, and the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients by reducing treatment-related complications. Five-year recurrence free survival of T1N0 glottic carcinoma has increased to 95% from 77% over the past 30 years by means of improved therapeutic equipment and use of additional treatment devices, such as immobilization shell and wedge filter. On the other hand, arytenoid edema which resulted in husky voice after radiation therapy was more infrequently observed in patient treated with lesser treatment volume. Overall 5-year survival of nasopharyngeal cancer patients has been also improved to 52% from 42% during the past 20 years. Replacement of telecobalt unit by linear accelerator and practical use of computed tomography have impacted on the above improved survival. More recently, intracavitary technique and immunological diagnostic procedure have been investigated to improve better local control and survival of nasopharyngeal cancer patient.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D015996:Survival Rate