Reirradiation and stereotactic body radiotherapy for recurrent or second primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract Recurrent or second primary squamous cell cancer of the head and neck in a previously irradiated field presents a therapeutic challenge in which outcomes are suboptimal and treatment is associated with significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Resection followed by risk-adapted adjuvant reirradiation, definitive reirradiation, and stereotactic body radiotherapy, all with the potential for concurrent systemic therapy, represent viable treatment strategies and can offer long-term disease control with acceptable quality of life for some of these patients. Careful patient selection based on patient-, disease-, and treatment-related factors that are considered in a multidisciplinary fashion is crucial to maximizing the therapeutic ratio of reirradiation.
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research