Background: Optimization of dose of radiation therapy (RT), fractionation, normal-tissue sparing, and technology has helped treating malignancies of the Head and Neck. Introduction of the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy has increased the tumor control and preservation of organ integrity. This study compares the final outcome of these two methods in treating the Head and neck cancers. Aim of the study: To compare the outcome of the advanced stages of Head and neck malignancies with concurrent chemo-radiation and radiation alone in terms locoregional control (tumor regression), recurrence, survival and complications. Materials: A randomized prospective study was conducted between Jan 2018 to Dec 2020 in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Viswabharathi Medical College and General Hospital, a tertiary teaching Hospital in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. 63 patients with advanced stages (stage III and IV) of Head and Neck Malignancies were included. Group A (33) patient with Head and Neck malignancies treated with Radiotherapy alone and Group B (30) patients treated with Concurrent chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. Patients to both the groups were allotted by a random number generated online at randomnumber.com. Patients diagnosed aged above 18 years were included. Patients of both the genders were included. Patients with histology of the tumors showing as squamous cell carcinoma were included. Patients with unresectable tumors were included. Patients with advanced stages (stage III and IV) were included. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), (21), 1982 performance status between 0 and 02 were included. Results: 63 patients Head and Neck malignancies were grouped as A (33) and B (30) patients. Group A received EBRT alone and B group concurrent chemo-radiation. There were 22 (34.92%) male patients in group A and 20 (31.74%) male patients in group B and there were 11 (17.46%) female patients in group A and 10 (15.87%) female patients in group B. The mean age in group A was 56.78±4.70 years and the mean age in the group B was 54.30±5.15 years. The age and gender, ECOG status, TNM staging and gross staging of the malignant diseases observed in the patients of both the groups included in this study had no statistical significant difference. (p- Value more than 0.05). Conclusions: The advantage of Combine chemo-radiation versus Radiotherapy alone was found to be only marginal and failed to show any positive significant advantage of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy over EBRT alone. In terms of overall response rates at the end of 06 months was ranging from 85.3% to 93% in the study. The limitations to this study are relatively short follow-up and small sample size.

Background: Optimization of dose of radiation therapy (RT), fractionation, normal-tissue sparing, and technology has helped treating malignancies of the Head and Neck. Introduction of the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy has increased the tumor control and preservation of organ integrity. This study compares the final outcome of these two methods in treating the Head and neck cancers. Aim of the study: To compare the outcome of the advanced stages of Head and neck malignancies with concurrent chemo-radiation and radiation alone in terms locoregional control (tumor regression), recurrence, survival and complications. Materials: A randomized prospective study was conducted between Jan 2018 to Dec 2020 in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Viswabharathi Medical College and General Hospital, a tertiary teaching Hospital in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. 63 patients with advanced stages (stage III and IV) of Head and Neck Malignancies were included. Group A (33) patient with Head and Neck malignancies treated with Radiotherapy alone and Group B (30) patients treated with Concurrent chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. Patients to both the groups were allotted by a random number generated online at randomnumber.com. Patients diagnosed aged above 18 years were included. Patients of both the genders were included. Patients with histology of the tumors showing as squamous cell carcinoma were included. Patients with unresectable tumors were included. Patients with advanced stages (stage III and IV) were included. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), (21), 1982 performance status between 0 and 02 were included. Results: 63 patients Head and Neck malignancies were grouped as A (33) and B (30) patients. Group A received EBRT alone and B group concurrent chemo-radiation. There were 22 (34.92%) male patients in group A and 20 (31.74%) male patients in group B and there were 11 (17.46%) female patients in group A and 10 (15.87%) female patients in group B. The mean age in group A was 56.78±4.70 years and the mean age in the group B was 54.30±5.15 years. The age and gender, ECOG status, TNM staging and gross staging of the malignant diseases observed in the patients of both the groups included in this study had no statistical significant difference. (p- Value more than 0.05). Conclusions: The advantage of Combine chemo-radiation versus Radiotherapy alone was found to be only marginal and failed to show any positive significant advantage of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy over EBRT alone. In terms of overall response rates at the end of 06 months was ranging from 85.3% to 93% in the study. The limitations to this study are relatively short follow-up and small sample size.