title: Patterns of postoperative radiotherapy for head and neck cancer in Italy: a prospective, observational study by the head and neck group of the Italian Association for Radiation Oncology (AIRO).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our previous survey showed that the patterns of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) in Italy might be suboptimal. A prospective observational study was therefore designed to evaluate this issue in greater detail.
  
  
  METHODS
  All radiotherapy centers involved in the HNC Working Group of the Italian Radiation Oncology Association were asked to enter into the study all patients treated with PORT during a 6-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 patients were accrued by 24 centers from December 2008 to May 2009. Larynx (38%) and oral cavity (34%) were the most common primary sites. The median time between surgery and the start of radiotherapy was 69 days (range, 25-215 days). Seventy-nine percent of cases with no evidence of risk factors for local recurrence were treated with high-dose radiotherapy to the primary site. In about 75% of cases the pN0 neck was included in the target volume. Concomitant chemotherapy was delivered to about 60% of patients with major risk factors and 21% of patients with no risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three issues emerged from our study as potential targets for future investigations: the impact on clinical outcome of the interval between surgery and the start of PORT; factors driving radiation oncologists to overtreat volumes at low risk of recurrence; and problems associated with the delivery of concomitant chemotherapy.
authors: Radiotherapy Units of the following institutions in Italy. mauro.palazzi@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Palazzi
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Alterio
authors: Sandro
authors: S
authors: Tonoli
authors: Orietta
authors: O
authors: Caspiani
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bolner
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Colombo
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Dall'oglio
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Lastrucci
authors: Feisal
authors: F
authors: Bunkheila
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Cianciulli
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Vigna Taglianti
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Cante
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Merlotti
authors: Ernestina
authors: E
authors: Bianchi
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Rampino
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Podhradska
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Fontana
authors: Fabiola
authors: F
authors: Paiar
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Miccichè
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Manzo
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Ursino
authors: Lorenza
authors: L
authors: Bruschieri
authors: Almalina
authors: A
authors: Bacigalupo
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Iannone
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Barca
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Tomatis