The Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Non-Malignant Diseases of the Head and Neck

The role of radiotherapy in the management of benign diseases is ever expanding. Non-malignant entities of the head and neck are particularly complex and represent therapeutic challenges given the potential for treatment-associated morbidities. Through a multidisciplinary interactive case-based activity, our panel covers four cases that address the following commonly encountered benign tumors of the head and neck for which radiotherapy can offer clinical benefit: 1) Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma 2) Paraganglioma 3) Acoustic neuroma and 4) Desmoid tumors of the neck. For each case, the panel addresses appropriate patient selection for definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy as well as focuses on dose selection and target volume delineation. Further, we outline key clinical characteristics for each case that indicate that treatment (over observation) is warranted.
 
Topics:

  1. Introduction to Benign Tumors
    Surgical Management of Benign Tumors of the Head and Neck 
    Richard L. Bakst, MD, FASTRO
    Scott A. Roof, MD
  2. Q and A – Part 1
    Richard L. Bakst, MD, FASTRO – Moderator
    Scott A. Roof, MD
  3. Patient Selection for Definitive Fractionated or SBRT for Benign Tumors of the Head and Neck/Q and A
    Danushka Seneviratne, MD, PhD
  4. Dose and Volume Selection for Benign Tumors of the Head and Neck/Q and A
    Christopher T. Wilke, MD, PhD
  5. Keloids/Q and A
    Richard L. Bakst, MD, FASTRO – Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from August 18, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 17, 2028. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, residents and ENTs.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Determine which patients should be considered for either definitive or adjuvant radiation therapy for the most common benign tumors of the head and neck region.
  • Describe appropriate dose regimens and target volume delineation based on the tumor histology and anatomical location. 
  • Assess clinical characteristics that indicate that treatment rather than observation is warranted.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 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 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
08/18/2026
Course expires: 
08/17/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator:  

  • Richard L. Bakst, MD, FASTRO, is employed by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Bakst has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.

Speakers:

  • Christopher T. Wilke, MD, PhD, is employed by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Wilke receives compensation/payment from Kallisio.  
  • Danushka Seneviratne, MD, PhD, is employed by OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. Dr. Seneviratne has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.  
  • Scott A. Roof, MD, is employed by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Roof has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.  

Planners:

  • Malcolm Mattes, MD, is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems. 
  • Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical. 
     

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.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 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 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

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 member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $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 August 17, 2028, 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.