Head and neck cancer (squamous cell)

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the fifth most common neoplasm worldwide, with an estimated global incidence of more than 500,000 cases per annum (1). The UK incidence was 7745 cases per year in 2006 (2). SCCHN presents formidable challenges for therapeutic intervention and these are often secondary to the vulnerability of critical anatomical structures in the head and neck region to tumouror treatment-induced damage. Such damage, irrespective of the aetiology, can be associated with significant structural, cosmetic and functional deficits that negatively impact patients’ quality of life.