Strategies to Overcome Late Complications from Radiotherapy for Childhood Head and Neck Cancers

As long-term survival rates increase for pediatric cancers, so does the number of children at risk for long-term radiation morbidities. Irradiation of the head and neck region is associated with multiple radiation complications affecting many functions, including vision, hearing, eating, and growth. Furthermore, children receiving radiation. for head and neck cancers are at risk for developing second malignancies, which are associated with adverse outcomes. Approaches to reduce these risks of late radiation toxicities include using PBR and IGRT to more precisely target the cancer. In addition, these patients would benefit from more advances in medical interventions to prevent or mitigate radiation toxicities. Thus, improving the technical precision of radiation and medical management of radiation toxicities gives hope to the survivors of pediatric cancers.