Influence of Tumour Volume on the Probability of Local Control after Radiotherapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

WM Mendenhall, AA Mancuso, CG Morris, RJ Amdur, RW Hinerman, NP Mendenhall

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:119-25

The purpose of this literature review is to determine the influence of the primary tumour volume on the likelihood of local control after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Tumour volume varies within T stage. The extent of this variability depends on the primary tumour site. Tumour volume significantly influences the likelihood of local control after radiotherapy for carcinomas of the glottis and supraglottic larynx. The ‘threshold’, or volume at which local control decreases, varies with tumour site. The impact of volume on local control probability appears to be less pronounced for carcinomas of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. The most important variable that has an impact on local control after radiotherapy is T stage. Primary tumour volume also significantly influences the likelihood of local control in patients with laryngeal carcinomas.