Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Radiotherapy Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer. Executive Summary. Comparative Effectiveness Review, Number 20

摘要

Head and neck cancers, specifically those arising in the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses/nasal cavity, salivary glands, and occult primaries, account for approximately 3 to 5 percent of cancers in the United States. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, it was estimated that 47,560 new cases would occur in 2008, with an estimated 11,260 deaths. The main challenge in radiation therapy for cancer is to attain the highest probability of tumor control or cure with the least amount of morbidity and toxicity to normal surrounding tissues (sometimes referred to as organs at risk).