title: Clinical evaluation of intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancers.
abstract: Radiotherapy and surgery are the principal curative modalities in treatment of head and neck cancer. Conventional two-dimensional and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy result in significant side effects and altered quality of life. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can spare the normal tissues, while delivering a curative dose to the tumour-bearing tissues. This article reviews the current role of IMRT in head and neck cancer from the point of view of normal tissue sparing, and also reviews the current published literature by individual head and neck cancer subsites. In addition, we briefly discuss the role of image guidance in head and neck IMRT, and future directions in this area.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bhide
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Newbold
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nutting
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy