title: Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost technique (69.5 Gy/5 weeks) : an alternative in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the feasibility and results of accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost technique (69.5 Gy/5 weeks) in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 65 patients were treated between June 2006 and August 2009. The distribution of clinical stages was as follows: II 11%, III 23%, IV 61%, and not defined 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 30.5 months. The treatment plan was completed in 94% of patients. Patients were treated using the conformal or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique. The median overall treatment time was 37 days (13-45 days). The mean radiotherapy dose was 68.4 Gy (16-74 Gy). Overall survival was 69% after 2 years. Disease-free survival was 62% after 2 years. Acute toxicity ≥ grade 3(RTOG scale) included mucositis (grade 3: 42.6%), pharynx (grade 3: 42.3%), skin (grade 3: 9.5%), larynx (grade 3: 4%), while late toxicity affected skin (grade 3: 6.25%) and salivary glands (grade 3: 3.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost technique is feasible in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer, has an acceptable toxicity profile, and yields promising treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiation Oncology, Prague, The Czech Republic. jiri.kubes@fnb.cz
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kubes
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cvek
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vondracek
authors.forename: Miloslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feltl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome