[Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer].

Radiotherapy plays an important role in therapy for head and neck cancers from the aspect of functional and cosmetic conservation. In 2001, 130,000 patients underwent radiotherapy for the first time, and those with head and neck cancer accounted for 12.5% of this population. However, we cannot consider the management of head and neck cancer without understanding the similarities and differences among the primary sub-sites, because there is a significant difference in the natural history of cancer among these sub-sites. Treatment results are improving with the popularization of stereotactic radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy, in addition to traditional brachytherapy. Trends in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer are summarized in this article by discussing the specificities and similarities among sub-sites.