Conformal radiation therapy represents a new challenge for radiation
oncologists. It offers the prospect of either increasing the radiation
dose to target tissues while delivering a similar dose to organs at
risk, or reducing the dose to organs at risk while maintaining the dose
to target tissues. First, lymph node areas at risk are established using
the available data from pathological examination of surgical specimens
and/or pattern of locoregional relapse. Then, based on a
three-dimensional description of the anatomical regions where the areas
at risk are located, guidelines for the delineation of the clinical
target volumes are proposed. The data presented should enable the reader
to make appropriate decisions regarding the selection and delineation of
the target volumes when confronted with the most frequent tumor types
and sites.The book will contribute to paving the way for more effective
radiation oncology in the twenty-first century.