Abstract
Head and neck cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the USA. Although there have been major improvements in surgical and radiation techniques, the overall survival has not changed significantly in the last decade. The major changes occurring in recent years have been in the ability to preserve organs and to improve quality of life. The advances in radiation therapy include 3D conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy and, more recently, imaging-guided radiotherapy. In advanced head and neck cancer the addition of chemotherapy to radiation has concomitantly improved survival and facilitated higher rates of organ preservation. Clinical trials are needed to develop better strategies customized to subgroups defined by individual biological risk and imaging findings.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.