Abstract

AN EXPLORATION ON PRECOCIOUS AMELIORATION OF RADIATION THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF HEAD-NECK CANCER

Nikita Pal*, Shambaditya Goswami and Dr. Ravindra Pal Singh

Abstract

Recent advancements in radiation oncology in the treatment of headneck cancer are Altered fractionation, 3D Conformal radiotherapy, Intensity modulated radiotherapy, Stereotactic radio surgery, Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, Charged-particle radiotherapy, Neutron beam radiotherapy, Brachytherapy, Acceleration of radiation dose, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (Tomography), Neutron radiation therapy, Radiosensitizers, Radiation protectors etc. The present study revealed a brief review on recent advancement of radiotherapy and its safety, efficacy and feasibility in head-neck cancer. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) grows in the mucous membranes of nasopharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. Radiation therapy is mainly regarded as a symptomatic treatment because only cancer cells are killed in the area of the body where the radiation is delivered. High-energy X-rays are used to kill cancer cells and thereby, shrinking the cancer growth. Radiation therapy is designed to maximize the probability of cure and minimize the adverse effects. It is employed alone as a primary treatment or combination with surgery and chemotherapy for the treatment of head-neck cancers. A web-based search viz. RESEARCH GATE, PUBMED, SPRINGER, ELSEVIER, GOOGLE scholar etc. and several research articles, review papers, conference preceding, unpublished work were made to make a successful review. Though radiation therapy related side-effects have tremendous impact on the quality of life, but modern techniques can provide meticulous radiation delivery and reduce the dose to the surrounding normal tissues without compromise of target coverage. Sooner or later, efforts and exploration of new strategies and advancements in modern technologies should be boosted treatment outcomes in patients with head-neck cancer.

Keywords: Head-neck squamous cell carcinoma, Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, Charged-particle radiotherapy, Neutron beam radiotherapy, Brachytherapy, Acceleration of radiation dose, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.