Abstract

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer poses notable challenges, largely due to the region’s intricate anatomy and the proximity of sensitive structures like the parotid gland. Achieving accurate patient positioning and precise targeting is crucial to ensure effective treatment while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. Yet, even minor setup inaccuracies or patient movement during therapy can lead to compromised target coverage, misalignment, and increased risk of side effects- particularly damage to organs such as the parotid gland, which can result in xerostomia.This study examines the core difficulties of delivering radiotherapy in such complex anatomical areas and outlines a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to address them. Techniques like 3DCRT and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) are recognized for their capacity to minimize exposure to critical organs while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.The integration of advanced imaging, collaborative clinical teamwork, and individualized quality assurance further supports safer, more accurate treatment delivery.Emerging technologies such as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), adaptive radiotherapy, and real-time motion tracking are explored as practical solutions to reduce setup deviations and intra-treatment motion. These innovations collectively enable more precise dose delivery, improving clinical outcomes while safeguarding vital structures like the parotid gland. Ultimately, and the study highlights the necessity of a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to enhance both the safety and success of radiotherapy in treating head and neck cancers

Keywords

head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, setup errors, shifting errors, multimodality, parotid gland, adaptive radiotherapy, image-guided radiotherapy, immobilization devices