Management of head and neck cancer: when, why, and to whom give radiotherapy

Abstract

Radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: review of management. Head and neck cancer treatment includes several treatment options. Surgery and radiotherapy are the most important local treatments. When planning the local treatment, the choices for the primary tumor, and the lymphatic spread to the neck must be considered. Subclinical metastatic disease to the neck is present in about 20% of patients, and can be controlled equally with surgery or radiation therapy. In a randomized trial, elective neck dissection has been shown to improve disease-free, and overall survival when compared with observation and salvage. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) allows a better sparing of normal tissues in the neck, and less morbidity from the treatment. Accelerated repopulation is a main determinant of poor local control in patients treated with radiotherapy who undergo treatment interruptions or a delay in its start. Thus, adjuvant radiotherapy must begin as early as possible, within six weeks of resection. Irradiated patients are at significant risk of dental complications, even when IMRT is used. That makes mandatory a dental evaluation and treatment prior to radiotherapy. Adverse radiation effects can occur during treatment (early reactions), or months to years after completion (late reactions). Patients with indication of radiotherapy must be referred early, preferably after dental evaluation. IMRT is an excellent tool when correctly indicated and uses. Main benefits of elective neck irradiation are less morbidity and higher cosst-effectiveness, making it a very useful treatment alternative to elective neck dissection in patients with localized disease.