Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Overview

Journal Saudi Med J

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Feb 26

PMID 33632902

Citations 43

Authors

Afnan F Alfouzan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This review summarizes the beginning of radiotherapy, techniques of modern radiation therapy with different types, toxicities induced by radiotherapy and their management. Head and neck radiation therapy is still improving for the better management and control of the cancer and induced radiotherapy toxicities.

Citing Articles

Dysphagia, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy: an observational study.

Gomes M, Ferreira P, Almeida A, Cornelio J, Arruda T, Mafra A BMC Cancer. 2025; 25(1):416.

PMID: 40055649 PMC: 11887319. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-025-13695-y.

HPV Infection and Oral Microbiota: Interactions and Future Implications.

Xia Q, Pierson S Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(4).

PMID: 40003891 PMC: 11855562. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041424.

Perceived stress and family adaptability in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy: the chain-mediated effect of social support and family resilience.

Li X, Zhu Y, Wan H Front Psychiatry. 2025; 15:1488196.

PMID: 39896992 PMC: 11782992. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1488196.

Intratympanic administration of dexamethasone attenuates radiation induced damage to middle ear mucosa.

Kwon H, Kim S, Jin S, Shin S, Lee J, Park M Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):3127.

PMID: 39856184 PMC: 11760350. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87195-1.

Early Alterations of Cytoskeletal Proteins Induced by Radiation Therapy in the Parenchymal Cells of Rat Major Salivary Glands: A Comparative Immunohistochemical Analysis.

Hassan S, Alqahtani M Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e75634.

PMID: 39803043 PMC: 11725335. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.75634.

References

Ceponis P, Keilman C, Guerry C, Freiberger J . Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and osteonecrosis. Oral Dis. 2016; 23(2):141-151. DOI: 10.1111/odi.12489. View

Rathod S, Gupta T, Ghosh-Laskar S, Murthy V, Budrukkar A, Agarwal J . Quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT): evidence from a prospective.... Oral Oncol. 2013; 49(6):634-42. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.02.013. View

Barker Jr J, Garden A, Ang K, ODaniel J, Wang H, Court L . Quantification of volumetric and geometric changes occurring during fractionated radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer using an integrated CT/linear accelerator system. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004; 59(4):960-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2003.12.024. View

Lee N, Le Q . New developments in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: intensity-modulated radiation therapy and hypoxia targeting. Semin Oncol. 2008; 35(3):236-50. PMC: 2494523. DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2008.03.003. View

Lee N, Harris J, Garden A, Straube W, Glisson B, Xia P . Intensity-modulated radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: radiation therapy oncology group phase II trial 0225. J Clin Oncol. 2009; 27(22):3684-90. PMC: 2720082. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2008.19.9109. View

Mansfield M, Sanders D, Heimbach R, Marx R . Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. J Oral Surg. 1981; 39(8):585-9. View

Kam M, Teo P, Chau R, Cheung K, Choi P, Kwan W . Treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with intensity-modulated radiotherapy: the Hong Kong experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004; 60(5):1440-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2004.05.022. View

Gupta T, Agarwal J, Jain S, Phurailatpam R, Kannan S, Ghosh-Laskar S . Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) versus intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a randomized controlled trial. Radiother Oncol. 2012; 104(3):343-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2012.07.001. View

Marx R . Osteoradionecrosis: a new concept of its pathophysiology. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1983; 41(5):283-8. DOI: 10.1016/0278-2391(83)90294-x. View

10.

Connell P, Hellman S . Advances in radiotherapy and implications for the next century: a historical perspective. Cancer Res. 2009; 69(2):383-92. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6871. View

11.

Case J . Some early experiences in therapeutic radiology; formation of the American Radium Society. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1953; 70(3):487-91. View

12.

Lee N, de Arruda F, Puri D, Wolden S, Narayana A, Mechalakos J . A comparison of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and concomitant boost radiotherapy in the setting of concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006; 66(4):966-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.06.040. View

13.

Vissink A, Jansma J, Spijkervet F, Burlage F, Coppes R . Oral sequelae of head and neck radiotherapy. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 2003; 14(3):199-212. DOI: 10.1177/154411130301400305. View

14.

Sood A, Fox N, OConnell B, Lovelace T, Nguyen S, Sharma A . Salivary gland transfer to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral Oncol. 2013; 50(2):77-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.10.010. View

15.

Cox J, Stetz J, Pajak T . Toxicity criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1995; 31(5):1341-6. DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(95)00060-C. View

16.

Ben-David M, Diamante M, Radawski J, Vineberg K, Stroup C, Murdoch-Kinch C . Lack of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible after intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: likely contributions of both dental care and improved dose distributions. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007; 68(2):396-402. PMC: 2702207. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.11.059. View

17.

Vanetti E, Clivio A, Nicolini G, Fogliata A, Ghosh-Laskar S, Agarwal J . Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy for carcinomas of the oro-pharynx, hypo-pharynx and larynx: a treatment planning comparison with fixed field IMRT. Radiother Oncol. 2009; 92(1):111-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2008.12.008. View

18.

ODell K, Sinha U . Osteoradionecrosis. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2011; 23(3):455-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2011.04.011. View

19.

Momm F, Volegova-Neher N, Schulte-Monting J, Guttenberger R . Different saliva substitutes for treatment of xerostomia following radiotherapy. A prospective crossover study. Strahlenther Onkol. 2005; 181(4):231-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00066-005-1333-7. View

20.

Sroussi H, Epstein J, Bensadoun R, Saunders D, Lalla R, Migliorati C . Common oral complications of head and neck cancer radiation therapy: mucositis, infections, saliva change, fibrosis, sensory dysfunctions, dental caries, periodontal disease, and osteoradionecrosis. Cancer Med. 2017; 6(12):2918-2931. PMC: 5727249. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1221. View