A novel setup approach for helical tomotherapy in head and neck cancer: A case report

Head and neck cancers that are associated with high-risk factors have a poor prognosis. In such patients, post-operative radiochemotherapy is mandatory. The present study describes the case of a 71-year-old high-risk head and neck cancer patient who was not able to tolerate the supine position for the radiotherapy setup. A lateral immobilization with a head mask and a vacuum cushion was performed. The patient underwent daily computed tomography (CT)-guided radiation therapy [image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)]. At nine months post-radiotherapy, the patient had no xerostomia and no swallowing dysfunction. However, the patient suffered a local recurrence and succumbed due to bleeding of the tumor a number of weeks after the recurrence. A recalculation of the actual delivered dose, taking the daily delivered dose into account, was performed. The recurrence occurred within the high-dose region. In selected cases of patients with head and neck cancers who are unable to tolerate the supine position, lateral positioning and high precision treatment is possible using daily IGRT.