Radiotherapy treatment of head and neck cancer

Abstract

This work explains about the scheme of using radiation in the treatment of head and neck cancer. X-ray radiation is delivered in 360 degree rotation from linear accelerator into the patient body and the target inside. Our objective is to kill the tumor by saving critical organs surrounding the target using intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment techniques. If the simulation based on 3D geometry of the patient anatomy is optimal, linear accelerator would deliver the correct amount of radiation dose into the target inside the body using the beam modulation techniques. The picture represents the simulation performed on internal anatomy of head and neck region of a patient using 6 Mega electron volt X-ray energy. This work was performed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a research project and joint study with physicians, in order to explore the best possible treatment schemes designation for head and neck cancer patients as part of my PhD dissertation to be submitted to Physics Department at UIC in the year 2009.