Comparison of Conventional versus Accelerated Fractions of Radiotherapy per Week for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Purpose: In Indian scenario Head and neck cancer is the second most cancer. As compared to female it is more common in male. In radiotherapy, conventional fractionation (5Fx/week) and accelerated fractionation (6fx/week) is being advocated. Squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and neck cancer is predominantly a loco regional disease. The objective of the present study is comparison between conventional v/s accelerated fractions of radiotherapy in Squamous cell carcinoma of locally advanced Head and neck cancer. Methods: This prospective randomized single Institutional study done from July 2018 to November 2019 at Mathura Das Mathur Hospital, Jodhpur has compared the accelerated fractionation (66 Gy/33#, 6 days per week) with conventional fractionation (66 Gy/33 #, 5 days per week) in Squamous cell carcinoma of Head and neck patients. Comparison was done between the two radiotherapy schedules comprising of 25 patients each Arm. Results and Conclusion: The rate of grade I and II toxicities were similar in both arms. In the present study has proved that accelerated fraction provide benefit mainly by local tumor control. The rates of grade III toxicities were significantly more in accelerated arm. So, when selecting the patients for these regimes’ institutional workload, disease status and patients related factors should be considered.