Expertise

Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Decision support when cancer returns after full dose chemoradiation

Decision support when head and neck cancer returns after full dose chemoradiation, where standard re-irradiation is limited by the dose already given to healthy tissue. Specialist review of salvage surgery, careful re-irradiation, particle therapy and, where available, boron neutron capture therapy.

Key Facts

  • Recurrent head and neck cancer after full dose radiation has limited standard re-treatment options

  • Specialist multidisciplinary review can identify salvage surgery, careful re-irradiation, or particle therapy approaches

  • In a published BNCT series, about 36% of evaluable patients achieved a complete response (Koivunoro et al., 2019)

Related Insights

When Head and Neck Cancer Returns After Full Dose Radiation

When head and neck cancer recurs after full dose chemoradiation, standard re-irradiation is limited by the dose already delivered to healthy tissue. In a published series, boron neutron capture therapy achieved a 45% complete response in patients with no remaining options. Conventional radiation therapy is less effective and has severe side effects.

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