title: Current status of IMRT in head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IMRT provides highly conformal dose distributions creating non uniform spatial intensity using different segments in the beam.
  Different retrospective studies have shown a high capability of IMRT to treat tumours close to the base of skull. Prospective studies have shown a decrease in xerostomia compared with conventional 3D conformal treatment (3DCRT). Modulation of intensity is performed by the movement of the multileaf collimator (MLC) that can deliver the radiation in different ways, such as static field segments, dynamic field segments and rotational delivery (arc therapy and tomotherapy). There are slight differences among the different techniques in terms of homogeneity, dose conformity and treatment delivery time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The best method to deliver IMRT will depend on multiple factors such as deliverability, practicality, user training and plan quality.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncologia Radioterapica del Hospital Clínico Virgen de la Victoria, Campus Teatinos s/n, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomez-Millan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Calle de Manuel de Falla, 1, 28222 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús Romero
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Campus Teatinos s/n, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Medina Carmona
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Intensity modulated radiation therapy; Rotational therapy; Tomotherapy