New Guides on Radiotherapy Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer Are Available

AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program released new summary guides on Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Radiotherapy Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer and Understanding Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Guide for Adults and Their Caregivers.  The new guides are based on a recent AHRQ comparative effectiveness review on the effectiveness of different types of radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancers.  That report, published in May, found that an advanced type of radiation called intensity-modulated radiation therapy leads to fewer cases of xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth, than other types of radiation, but it is unknown whether the treatment is better or worse at reducing the size of tumors.  The report was prepared by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Technology Evaluation Center in Chicago for AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program.  In addition, a CME activity and a slide talk are also available.