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Radiation Therapy in the Management of Early-Stage Head and Neck Cancer

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Head and Neck Cancer

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 114))

Conclusion

Radiation therapy is highly effective in controlling most early stage squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Treatment should be aimed at maximizing the chance for cure with an acceptable low risk of late complications. Innovative treatment techniques often allow for sparing of adjacent normal tissue, as well as the contralateral salivary glands. While beyond the scope of this chapter, newer strategies incorporating recent technological advances further refine the radiotherapist’s ability to maximize the therapeutic ratio, such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The next decade will likely witness a substantial shift in treatment algorithms to reflect such advances, with a resultant decrease in the incidence of late sequelae, possibly coupled with an improvement in local control.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida

    Russell W. Hinerman MD, William M. Mendenhall MD & Robert J. Amdur MD

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  1. Russell W. Hinerman MD
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  2. William M. Mendenhall MD
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  3. Robert J. Amdur MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL

    Brockstein Bruce M.D.  & Masters Gregory M.D.  & 

  2. Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

    Brockstein Bruce M.D.  & Masters Gregory M.D.  & 

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© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Hinerman, R.W., Mendenhall, W.M., Amdur, R.J. (2004). Radiation Therapy in the Management of Early-Stage Head and Neck Cancer. In: Bruce, B., Gregory, M. (eds) Head and Neck Cancer. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 114. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48060-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48060-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-7336-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48060-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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