Current status of radiation therapy. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) of radiation therapy. Radiotherapy for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer

Radiation therapy is the first choice of treatment for early pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers, especially those of the glotic larynx and nasopharynx. For advanced lesions without distant metastasis, more intensive treatments, i.e., chemoradiotherapy, multiple fractions per day, and conformal radiotherapy are introduced to improve local control and survival. However, the level of evidence-based medicine is different for each treatment modality. In this review, recent reports of radiotherapy for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer are introduced from the point of view of the evidence level. (author)