Onkologie. 2008:2(2):85-87

Combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in head and neck cancer treatment

Petr Burkoň

Oddělení klinické a radiační onkologie, FN u svaté Anny v Brně

Tumours of the head and neck region belong to the most often reasons of death for malignancies. There are approximatelly half million new cases per year found out all over the world. Sixty percent of these patients have advanced disease and their prognosis is very bad. If successfully treated such patients suffer from various functional or cosmetic disorders. Many changes in treatment of head and neck cancer come in the last few years. Previously used methods of care – surgery or radiotherapy alone – are today combined together or with other modalities of cancer care. The therapy of head and neck cancer is multidisciplinar nowadays. Chemotherapy becomes an important part of radiation therapy schedules, alternative fractionation or IMRT techniques (intensity modulated radiation therapy) are used. Quality of life is one of the most important factors changing doctors´ decision how to care each patient. The aim of new methods of care is to improve the efficacy but with keeping the toxicity in the same or low level.

Keywords: head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, induction chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Published: August 1, 2008  Show citation