Our institution recently began incorporating a novel "tongue-out" radiation therapy (TORT) technique for patients with head and neck tumors at particular subsites (oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx). Protruding the tongue, i.e. "tongue-out" position, induces anatomical changes that facilitate decreased radiation dose to the oral tongue and PCM. The long-term goal is to determine whether TORT results in reduced severity and faster recovery from acute treatment-related toxicities (particularly mucositis, dysphagia, and dysgeusia) and improved long-term swallowing function and taste compared to traditional "tongue-in" RT for patients with HNC.
Must have histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx (cT0-4, N0-3, M0-1).
Definitive RT dose is planned for the primary site
The number of metastatic lesions is ≤5
All metastatic lesions are confined to a single organ (e.g., lung)
Patients with T1-T2 N0 glottic cancer (i.e., planned to undergo RT to the larynx only)
Posterior pharyngeal wall primary tumor
Widely metastatic disease
Surgical resection of the primary tumor
Yvonne Mowery
Lead sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Sponsor institution
Radiological Society of North America
Collaborator