Side Effects of High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Assess salivary function in patients with advanced head and neck cancer treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) by measuring stimulated saliva production at 6 and 12 months after completion of therapy. * Compare salivary function in these patients to salivary function in historical controls. Secondary * Assess auditory, swallow, and voice function and quality of life of these patients before and after IMRT or chemoradiotherapy. * Advance experience with IMRT/tomotherapy and improve field design for irradiating head and neck cancer in an effort to reduce radiation dose and minimize effects on surrounding normal tissue. OUTLINE: This is a prospective study. Patients undergo standard of care high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the head and neck. Patients undergo baseline and post-treatment testing of auditory, salivary, swallow, and voice function as well as quality of life evaluation. Patients are evaluated for radiation-induced toxicities at 1, 6, and 12 months after completion of IMRT. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20 patients will be accrued for this study.