title: Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) in head and neck cancers - an overview.
abstract: Radiotherapy (RT) is effective in head and neck cancers. Following RT, dryness and dysphagia are the 2 major sequelae which alter the quality of life (QOL) significantly in these patients. There is randomized evidence that Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) effectively spares the parotid glands. IMRT has been attempted in all head and neck subsites with encouraging results (discussed below). Role of IMRT in swallowing structure (constrictor muscles) sparing is less clear.Further improvement in results may be possible by using functional imaging at the time of RT planning and by image guidance/verification at the time of treatment delivery. The following text discusses these issues in detail.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Head and neck cancer, IMRT.
authors: Department of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, London, UK. chris.nutting@rmh.nhs.uk
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Nutting
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D061089:Radiotherapy, Image-Guided; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*