Evidence-based review: quality of life following head and neck intensity-modulated radiotherapy.
Inverse planned Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can minimize the dose to normal structures and therefore can reduce long-term radiotherapy-related morbidity and may improve patients' long-term quality of life. Despite overwhelming evidence that IMRT can reduce late functional deficits in patients with head and neck cancer, treated with radiotherapy, a review of the published literature produced conflicting results with regard to quality of life outcomes. Following a critical appraisal of the literature, reasons for the discrepant outcomes are proposed.
Scott-Brown
Martin
M
Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, University of Oxford, UK.
Miah
Aisha
A
Harrington
Kevin
K
Nutting
Chris
C
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D016896:Treatment Outcome