Abstract
Radiation therapy has been used as a curative treatment for head and neck cancer because of the complicated characteristics of this region. With the development of technology in recent years, IMRT （intensity modulated radiation therapy） and particle therapy have been increasingly used as radical treatment methods. IMRT, which can reduce the radiation dose to the surrounding normal tissue, plays an important role for locally advanced head and neck cancer.
Particle therapy has two advantages: a better dose distribution compared to conventional radiation therapy including IMRT, and stronger biological effects compared to photon therapy. Although particle therapy has been used for the treatment of non-squamous cell tumors which are radio-resistant, this therapy combined with chemotherapy will play an important role for locally advanced head and neck cancer.
