Specific Radiation Therapy Approaches:
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Alone
IMRT has essentially replaced traditional radiation therapy for treatment of NPC. IMRT allows for better dose conformality, vital for treating the nasopharynx as it is situated in an area close to many critical structures, including the brain stem, spinal cord, brain. IMRT also better spares the parotid gland which is involved in saliva production, which affords patients better quality of life due to less dry mouth as a chronic side effect of radiation therapy.