[Reirradiations of head and neck cancers: state of the concept and ways of development]

Abstract

The treatment of local recurrence or second primary developed in irradiated area in the field of head and neck carcinoma, should be planned and organized through multidisciplinary discussions. The outcome of such a clinical situations benefits from second line and advanced technology treatments. Only a few patients are amenable to salvage surgery, hence radiation therapy, combined or not with chemotherapy, takes a major role in these indications. This overview of the literature describes recent development in this field, aiming to improve local control while the sparing of organ at risk remains an important goal. Radiation therapy is currently implementing major new technologies set to improve external beam irradiation with new concepts on dose, fractionation, intensity modulated radiation therapy and stereotactic approach - as well as in brachytherapy. Apart from dedicated studies, the great heterogeneity of the treated patients should be underlined and taken into consideration. However, current data confirm the feasibility of reirradiation with acceptable local control and toxicity.

Keywords: Cancers tête et cou; Head and neck cancer; Literature survey; Reirradiation; Revue de la littérature; Ré-irradiations.