Irradiation method and the immobilization and positioning of patients (head and neck)

Head and neck cancer (HNC) accounts for approximately 5% of all malignancies, and >90% of these cases are squamous cell carcinoma. The primary treatment usually comprises surgery and radiation therapy administered with or without chemotherapy. Because the head and neck region has physiological and cosmetic functions, such as respiration, vocalization, mastication, and swallowing, treatment is selected while considering the balance between curability and deterioration of the quality of life. However, few treatment options are available for recurrent HNC after standard therapy, which indicates an urgent need to develop a treatment method that can be highly curative while preserving organ function in patients with HNC. In this context, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is considered to have great potential.