Head and Neck

Due to the anatomy of the neck, IMRT is very difficult to perform. Several critical structures lie in the path of the radiation beams and must be avoided or reduced. This can be achieved by treating with Compensator-Based IMRT. Compensators also increase the dose to the tumor, while improving tumor control.

With the small volume at issue and the number of structures to avoid, .decimal compensators are ideal for IMRT treatments, due to increased resolution of the parts themselves. Side by side comparisons indicate distinct advantages for lower doses to normal structures, such as the salivary producing glands and oral cavity. As is the case with other disease sites, the amount of time on the table is much less for the patient.