title: Simultaneous integrated boost-intensity-modulated radiotherapy in head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review toxicity and outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer treated with simultaneous integrated boost-intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of experience with the SIB-IMRT technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients were treated with the SIB-IMRT technique. Two possible schedules of radiation therapy (RT) were used: SIB 70 (70/60/54 in 33 fractions) and SIB 66 (66/60/54 in 33 fractions). Forty-one patients also received chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All but two patients completed treatment as prescribed. No G4 acute toxicity has been reported in our series. We did not observe any G3 to G4 chronic toxicity, apart from one case of cutaneous necrosis. After a median follow-up of 23.3 months (range, 1-60 months), 41 patients (82%) were alive and negative for disease, and one patient (2%) was alive with distant metastases. Eight patients (16%) died, seven because of progressive disease and one for other causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SIB-IMRT is a highly effective and safe technique of RT in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, IFCA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paiar
authors.forename: Icro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meattini
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agresti
authors.forename: Eleonora Monteleone
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pasquetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greto
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marrazzo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casati
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Livi
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Radiotherapy; chemotherapy; head and neck