Variation in Routine Use of a 60 to 63 Gy Intermediate Dose Clinical Target Volume With Primary Radiation therapy for Mucosal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Abstract

Primary radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the mucosa of the head and neck is commonly delivered with Intensity Modulated Radiation therapy and a dose prescription involving the Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB) approach, also known as Dose-Painting. With an SIB prescription, all target regions receive the same number of fractions but different total doses as the fraction size is different for each area. A common primary radiation therapy SIB dose program is to prescribe 70 Gy at 2 Gy to the high-risk target area and 56 Gy at 1.6 Gy to the elective target areas.