A treatment planning comparison of 3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy for treatment of head and neck tumours

Radiotherapy is a treatment method having an important value in the treatment of patients presenting with head and neck tumours. Radiotherapy is preferred using with suitable techniques in head and neck tumours in terms of being reduced at least the damage to vicinity tissues. It is significant to be investigated the differences, advantages and disadvantages of the different methods and treatment planning techniques which are in progress.In this work, the treatment plans of 20 head and neck patients treated between 01.01.2011-01.01.2012 in Radiation Oncology Department in Cukurova University were prepared and comprised with using 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). These patients were choosen as 5 nasopharynx, 5 supraglottic larynx, 5 oral cavity, 2 parotid, 1 hipopharynx, 1 oropharynx and 1 nasal cavity. Target volumes described by radiation oncologists were classified according to the taken doses and organs at risk had defined for each area. Minimum, maximum and V95% of target volumes? dose values were investigated as percentage, the dose values of organs at risk were investigated as Gray (Gy) and each results for these two techniques were comprised in Treatment Planning System (TPS). Especially, it is showed that better target coverage and better organs at risk protection are obtained with using IMRT technique to head and neck patients.