Potential application of stereotactic radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

Introduction Stereotactic ablative radiation (SABR) therapy, or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), delivers high-dose external beam radiation to a small, clearly defined target area in one or more sessions. It is the standard treatment for medically inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, early-stage prostate cancer, and oligometastatic disease from other primary locations. Aim This article discusses the use of stereotactic radiotherapy in neoplasms of the head and neck region – as primary treatment, including early laryngeal cancer; as post-operative adjuvant therapy; as a boost after radiation therapy (dose escalation method); and the use of SBRT for re-radiatiotherapy. The next part discusses the serious complication in the form of carotid artery rupture in the course of repeated radiotherapy. Material and methods The article was written based on the analysis of the literature on the subject from 2009 to 2021. Results and discussion SBRT is relatively safe and effective, especially in those cancers where the survival time with the cancer is relatively long, moreover, the location of the critical organs around the target of the therapy and the dose deposited in the critical organs is important. Conclusions (1) Treatment should be considered for patients receiving treatment more than 2 years after their primary treatment. (2) In cases with a shorter time interval, a minimum of 6 months should elapse before considering SBRT. (3) If feasible, tumor resection should be pursued. (4) In cases of non-resectable tumors, preservation of the functional organ should be a priority.