[Non surgical treatment approach for head and neck cancer]

In many patients with localized carcinoma, radiotherapy alone is an alternative to surgery. In patients with non surgical locally advanced carcinoma of the head and neck the use of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy is a standard. Chemotherapy is a platinum-based chemotherapy. Radiotherapy must be delivered using 3D conformal technique with or without intensity modulation to increase local control and/or overall survival. An alternative for chemotherapy is an induction use for organ preservation. If chemotherapy is contra indicated patients must be treated with hyperfractionated and/or accelerated treatment or a conventional radiotherapy combined with targeted therapy such as monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor. Supportive care is daily employed to increase the quality of life.