Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
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Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) allows the delivery of higher and more homogeneous radiation dose to head and neck tumours. This study aims to determine the safety of dose-escalated chemo-IMRT for larynx preservation in locally advanced head and neck cancer. ⋯ Moderately accelerated chemo-IMRT is safe and feasible with good compliance and acceptable acute toxicity. Dose escalation was possible without a significant difference in acute toxicity. Longer follow-up is required to determine the incidence of late radiation toxicities, and tumour control rates.
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Comparative Study
Unilateral versus bilateral irradiation in squamous cell head and neck cancer in relation to patient-rated xerostomia and sticky saliva.
To investigate the association between radiation technique with patient-rated moderate and severe xerostomia and sticky saliva. ⋯ Both technique and MD(parb) influence the risk of xerostomia in irradiated patients. Of all individual salivary glands, only MD(parcl) is of utmost importance for xerostomia. The shift in the P50 observed for xerostomia suggests that sparing of the contralateral parotid gland is compensated by hyperfunction of the contralateral parotid gland.
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To assess the relationship between the radiation therapy (RT) dose received by the muscular components of the swallowing (sw) apparatus and - dysphagia related - quality of life (QoL) in oropharyngeal cancer. ⋯ A dose-effect relationship between dose and swallowing complaints was observed. One way to improve the QoL is to constrain the dose to be received by the swallowing muscles.