title: [Normal tissue tolerance to external beam radiation therapy: larynx and pharynx].
abstract: For head and neck cancers, the radiation dose usually needed to sterilize a macroscopic tumour is at least 70 Gy in conventional fractionation. In the larynx, this dose level enables optimal tumour control while exposing the patient to a limited risk of severe complications. For oropharynx and nasopharynx tumors, it is sometimes possible to limit the dose received by the larynx according to the extent of the primary lesion. Thus, if the tumour constraints permit, the maximum dose to the larynx must be less than 63 to 66 Gy. To reduce the risk of laryngeal edema, it is recommended if possible to limit the mean non-involved larynx dose to 40 to 45 Gy. In the pharynx, literature's data suggested to minimize the volume of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles receiving a dose greater than or equal to 60 Gy. Limiting the volume receiving a dose greater than or equal to 50 Gy reduces the risk of dysphagia. These dose constraints should be tailored to each patient taking into account the extent of the initial primary lesion, the possible addition of chemotherapy or a modified fractionation radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiothérapie, Centre Hospitalier Dax-Côte d'Argent, Boulevard Yves-du-Manoir, 40100 Dax, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debelleix
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pointreau
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafond
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calais
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bourhis
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D007830:Larynx / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014831:Voice / Q000528:radiation effects