title: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck surgeons.
abstract: The development of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has played a major role in improving outcomes and decreasing morbidity in patients with head and neck cancer. This review addresses this vital modality with a focus on the important role of the head and neck surgeon. The technique as well as its benefits and points of caution are outlined, the definitions of tumor and treatment volumes are discussed, and the dose and fractionation are detailed. Following this are several sections dedicated to the role of the head and neck surgeon in the planning of both definitive and postoperative radiotherapy to the primary site and neck. There is a focus throughout on anatomic and surgical considerations; commonly encountered situations are illustrated. With a deeper understanding of this technique and their own pivotal contribution to target delineation, head and neck surgeons will be poised to expand their role and improve cancer care for their patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2368-E2373, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Stanley I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gutiontov
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Nancy Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Translational Oncology, Institute of Molecular and Oncological Medicine of Asturias Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabanillas
mesh_terms: D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D066231:Surgeons
keywords: cancer; head and neck; intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); radiotherapy; target delineation