Head and Neck Tumors

Abstract

The technique of stereotactic radiosurgery has proved to be effective in the treatment of a variety of intracranial tumors, both benign and malignant, and abnormal conditions such as vascular malformations. Because of the proximity and the frequent involvement of the base of the skull, head and neck tumors as a group have also been explored as targets for extra-cranial radiosurgery. Because malignant head and neck tumors are usually highly aggressive and infiltrative, radiosurgery alone is seldom appropriate as the primary treatment modality for newly diagnosed disease. Radiosurgery, however, may offer significant benefits when used as a salvage treatment for recurrent disease or as a boost treatment after conventional radiotherapy. Among all the head and neck cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has attracted more attention with regard to the application of radiosurgery due to its unique location near the skull base, pattern of growth and invasion, relative radiosensitivity, and high incidence observed in some countries. In this chapter, the clinical results of using radiosurgery in the management of head and neck tumors are reviewed and discussed, with emphasis on the management of NPC.