Response to comments on: Carcinoma buccal mucosa treated with definitive hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes

Abstract

Dear Sir, This is in response to a letter to the editor[1] regarding our article, ‘Carcinoma buccal mucosa treated with definitive hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes’.[2] Being a retrospective analysis, our study reported data on morbidity based on the information available in the case files, and this the main limitation of the study. Therefore, this data may have underrated the rates of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ). The minimum follow-up period was reported as 1 month as one patient was lost to follow-up and the data on toxicity of this patient were not captured. In addition, radiation-induced trismus (RIT) is a more common complication of radiotherapy than ORNJ, but no data was provided on its incidence in this high-risk patient population as the data have not been properly documented in the case files. The data regarding acute and late toxicity can be obtained only in a properly designed prospective trial where the patients are closely followed up by the investigator. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.