[Chemotherapy: principles and application in head and neck tumors]

Chemotherapy is a rational treatment modality when microscopic or macroscopic disease is present. Cytotoxic agents can penetrate in all tissues in the body with exception of brain and gonads. They predominantly affect dividing cells. The role of chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck area is limited. Indications where chemotherapy can be considered are recurrence after previous surgery and/or radiotherapy and tumours that are not amenable for curative surgery and/or radiotherapy at first presentation.