Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers - Best Practices and Current Trends 2025

This session provides a comprehensive update on the multidisciplinary management of head and neck cancers, focusing on advancements in radiotherapy. The session begins with an overview of the epidemiology and risk factors for oropharyngeal, laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, and cutaneous malignancies. It highlights global trends such as the rising incidence of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and the global variations in head and neck cancer subtypes.

The role of radiotherapy is highlighted in each disease site, emphasizing key management principles by incorporating the most recent data to guide evidence-based decisions. A general overview summarizing the key fractionation and systemic therapy trials precedes the individual disease sites. For oropharyngeal cancers, recent results from de-escalation studies are discussed to guide contemporary standards of care. Patient selection for upfront surgery or radiation is also a key learning objective. For laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, discussions address the integration of chemotherapy and radiation to preserve voice and swallowing function. Updates on nasopharyngeal cancer focus on recent advancements in radiotherapy dosing, contouring and planning, and the role of systemic therapy. The management of cutaneous malignancies cover emerging data on adjuvant radiotherapy for high-risk tumors and its integration with immunotherapy.

Throughout, the session emphasizes patient-centered care, incorporating quality-of-life considerations and survivorship challenges into treatment decision-making. Insights into optimizing radiation therapy planning and delivery are also highlighted. This session is essential for clinicians aiming to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based care to patients with head and neck cancers.

This activity is available from August 11, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 1, 2026.

This activity was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Refresher Course.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents, radiation physicists, radiation dosimetrists, radiation therapists, medical oncologists, surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, and speed therapists.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following:

  1. Discuss the latest evidence-based recommendations for head and neck cancer.
  2. Implement the latest evidence-based recommendations into head and neck practice.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.50 SA-CME

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.50 self-assessment credits.

Course opens: 
08/11/2025
Course expires: 
03/01/2026
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Faculty:

Lachlan McDowell, BAppSc, MBBS, PhD is employed by Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr. McDowell has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Planners:

Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic Rochester. Dr. Haddock has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

William Small, MD, is employed by Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Small serves on a Data Safety Monitoring Board for Novocure and a Speaker's Bureau for Zeiss.

Parul Barry, MD, is employed by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry receives grant/research funding from Bravida Medical.

Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers University. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck and Beigene and serves as a consultant for Radiologica and MX Medical.

Malcom Mattes, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes receives grant/research funding from Gilead Sciences.

Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

ASTRO is awarded Deemed Status by the American Board of Radiology to provide SA-CME as part of Part II Maintenance of Certification. 

Available Credit

  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.50 SA-CME

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.50 self-assessment credits.

Price

Cost:
$149.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the discounted member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49 

If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date.

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until March 1, 2026, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date.

Required Hardware/software

One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.