title: Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy in advanced head and neck malignancies.
abstract: 58 patients of advanced head and neck cancer were treated by continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (study group) or conventional radiotherapy (control group). The study group of 29 patients had 26/29 (89%) of patients of stage T3 and T4 with 12/29 (41% 0) > N2 disease. The schedule employed was 1.5 Gy 3 times a day in 36 fractions on 12 treatment days without stopping for weekends. The spinal dose has been kept at 40.5 Gy and interfraction interval has been strictly kept at 6 hrs. Clinical, as well as radiological assessment has been encouraging with 23/29 (79.13%) of patients achieving complete regression of the primary tumor and nodal disease. Compared to the conventionally treated controls this value has been significant (P value < 0.001). In stage III disease tumor control has been in 9/10 (90%) cases, while in stage IV disease in 14/19 (73.68%) cases. The acute mucosal reactions have been found to be severe in these cases with 18/29 i.e. 62.06% suffering from grade III reactions. Nasogastric feeding was required in 25.92% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, K. G's Medical College, Lucknow, UP, India.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged