Head and Neck Radiotherapy with Tele-Cobalt Machine- Efficacy and Need for Tissue Compensation

External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) remains the mainstay for radical treatments, in malignancies in head and neck regions. Teletherapy with cobalt-60 isotope machines are still available for cancer management in countries with more population, and their continuation as a basic machine has been recommended [1]. With linear accelerators, the present day radiotherapy for radical treatments in head and neck are to use Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to limit doses to unilateral or bilateral parotid, sub-mandibular glands, and to limit spinal cord doses. Because of less inter-field separations, the penetration requirements of the treatment plans makes the telecobalt beam sufficient for executing radiotherapy, with proper immobilization and use of wedges if required.