Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

AlignRT® is an innovative technology which increases treatment accuracy and patient comfort during radiation therapy.

Head and Neck cancer treatments traditionally have relied on claustrophobic and uncomfortable closed masks to set up and keep patients in the correct position during radiation therapy. Studies show that patients find the use of closed face masks to be one of their worst experiences during Radiation Therapy¹, with nearly half (43%) reporting “clinically significant anxiety” before their mask-making session².

With its sub-millimetric accuracy, plus its ability to stop the radiation beam if a patient moves out of position, AlignRT is the only surface guided radiation technology that enables treatments with open-faced masks.

Open-faced masks have been proven as effective as closed-faced masks and have been shown to be preferred by most patients.1. They are made of the same material and manufactured in the same manner as closed masks, but the nose, eyes, parts of the forehead, and cheekbones are left open.

Why should I choose a center with AlignRT for my treatment?

AlignRT is a safety monitoring system that tracks your body’s surface during your treatment, ensuring sub-millimetric accuracy. This helps protect surrounding organs and healthy tissue, reducing the risk of side effects.

Unlike traditional radiation technology, AlignRT is capable of stopping treatment if you move out of the desired treatment position.

Radiation therapy, when guided by AlignRT, may also eliminate the need for permanent tattoos and marks during treatment.

Find a Center Near You That Uses AlignRT Technology to Treat Head and Neck Cancer 

 

Look for the maroon cancer ribbon on our treatment locator to find these centers.

References

1. Li, G. et al. Migration from full-head mask to “open-face” mask for immobilization of patients with head and neck cancer. J Appl Clin Med Phys 14, 243-254, doi:10.1120/jacmp.v14i5.4400 (2013).

2. Wiant, D. et al. A prospective evaluation of open face masks for head and neck radiation therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol, doi:10.1016/j.prro.2016.02.003 (2016).