Quality of Life Outcomes Following Organ-Sparing SBRT in Previously Irradiated Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Local control and overall survival rates for recurrent head and neck cancer remain poor, despite the use of local therapy. In addition, re-irradiation with conventional radiation therapy confers a high rate of grade 3 and higher late toxicities. SBRT appears to improve the therapeutic ratio in this patient population, and treatment planning with a focus on sparing OAR _{<i>Extreme</i>} may further decrease the rates of morbidity in these patients.