Quad Shot

The Quad Shot regimen is a schedule for palliative radiation designed to deliver 14Gy/4#/2 days. The dose delivered is unlikely to cause radiation induced mucositis and can be repeated if patients show good response. Phase II trials have indicated this to be useful in patients suffering from advanced head and neck cancers with limited life expectancy. Since the treatment is over in two days, patients and caregivers coming from far off places are benefited. The conventional palliative dose schedule used at many centres is 30Gy/10#/2 weeks. This prospective, randomised study compares the outcome of 'Quad Shot' regimen and the standard conventional two weeks regimen in patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma in terms of clinical response, toxicities and quality of life. The trial shows that the two regimes are comparable and it may be suggested that the 'Quad Shot' regimen is a useful one for outstation patients with advanced disease and limited life expectancy.