Radiation injury to the spinal cord in head and neck cancers: does field arrangement have a role.

Anusheel, Munshi; Prabhakar, Ramachandran; Mohanti, Bidhu Kalyan

Radiation injury to the spinal cord in head and neck cancers: does field arrangement have a role.

Date

2006-04-14

Authors

Anusheel, Munshi

Prabhakar, Ramachandran

Mohanti, Bidhu Kalyan

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A study of eight cases of head and neck cancers, to see if the cord was getting a higher dose in the antero-posterior (A-P) fields, compared to the bilateral (B/L) fields. OBJECTIVE: Radiation damage to the spinal cord is a critical issue for the radiation oncologists. This study was conducted to evaluate, if the dose to the spinal cord is higher by the antero-posterior (A-P) fields, compared to the bilateral (B/L) fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight cases of head and neck cancer were taken in our study. Two beam arrangements were placed in the treatment planning system, the B/L and the A-P fields. The DVH's for the cord dose were recorded and compared in both plans, with a standard fraction size of 200 cGy/fraction. RESULTS: The mean dose to the spinal cord was 168.06 cGy in A-P arrangement, while it was 133.75 cGy in the B/L arrangement. CONCLUSION: A-P field arrangement in head and neck malignancies delivers a higher dose to the spinal cord. Therefore, we need to spare the cord at an earlier dose limit.

Citation

Anusheel M, Prabhakar R, Mohanti BK. Radiation injury to the spinal cord in head and neck cancers: does field arrangement have a role. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics. 2006 Apr-Jun; 2(2): 65-7