Reirradiation with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy for recurrent or secondary head and neck cancer: Meta‐analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND To summarize outcomes of reirradiation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for recurrent or secondary head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS Primary endpoints were 2-year local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Studies involving only recurrent nasopharyngeal patients with cancer were excluded. RESULTS A total of 17 studies involving 1635 patients were included. Fourteen (82%) of those were retrospective, and 15 (88%) were from single institution. Reirradiation with IMRT produced pooled 2-year LC and OS rates of 52% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%-57%) and 46% (95% CI, 41%-50%), respectively. In subgroup analyses, the rate of salvage surgery (