Late dysphagia after IMRT for head and neck cancer and correlation with dose–volume parameters

Primary tumor delineation based on 18FDG PET for locally advanced head and neck cancer treated by chemo-radiotherapy

“…It has been reported that the rate of xerostomia also critically depends on the irradiation of sub-maxillary gland and minor salivary glands distributed throughout the head and neck mucosa [30][31][32]. Similarly, it has been shown that the rate of radiation-induced dysphagia also critically depends on the amount of constrictor muscle included in the high dose region [33][34][35]. Altogether, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the use of FDG-PET could also somehow reduce the radiation dose at the level of these critical organs at risk, at least in case of oropharyngeal tumors, and thus further reduce the rate of late morbidity after radiotherapy.…”

Radiotherapy equipment and departments in the European countries: Final results from the ESTRO-HERO survey

“…Due to significant technical improvements, it is now possible to cure more patients with fewer side effects. This requires, however, access to modern equipment, including intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), stereotactic radiotherapy and, most recently, particle therapy [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The European situation is highly diverse with large differences in demographics, cancer incidence and economic resources among countries.…”

Impact of weight loss in patients with head and neck carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy: is it an underestimated phenomenon? A radiation oncologist’s perspective

“…11,21 It would be desirable to have a prognostic nomogram for weight loss including clinical and dosimetric parameters, and depending on the results the estimated risk for an individual patient could be evaluated. Finally, several authors [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] have evaluated swallowing dysfunction after RT and attempted to determine the dosimetric (radiation dose-volume) factors correlating with swallowing toxicity. These results are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Other authors have reported similar results. 24,25 Dirix et al 26 wanted to establish a relationship between late dysphagia and RT doses to the organs at risk involved in the swallowing process, correlating clinical parameters such as the impact of tumor site, tumor stage and pretreatment swallowing problem. A mean dose ⩾ 50 Gy to middle PC, inferior PC and to supraglottic larynx significantly correlated with late dysphagia.…”