Adjuvant Radiotherapy

What is it?

Adjuvant radiotherapy is given after the primary treatment. The primary treatment could be surgery or chemotherapy. The aim of adjuvant radiotherapy is to eliminate microscopic disease and reduce the risk of recurrence.

What is the need?

Adjuvant radiotherapy is given in cases where the primary treatment has been done and the rate of recurrence or failure is high. Some examples of high risk features are positive margin, close margin, extra capsular/ nodal extension, node positivity, lymphovascular space invasion, perineural invasion and locally advanced primary tumours.

What are the sites which may need adjuvant radiotherapy?

• Brain cancer: After surgery in gliomas, ependymomas, meningiomas, meduloblastomas etc.
• Head and Neck Cancer: After surgery for tongue, oropharynx, buccal mucosa, larynx, maxilla, thyroid, sinonanasal etc.
• Breast Cancer: After breast conservation surgery as part of breast conservation treatment, after mastectomy.
• Gynaecological Cancer: Cervix, endometrium, vulva, vagina.
• GI cancers: Stomach, gall bladder, pancreas.
• Lung Cancer.