04/23/2025
Hello Fellow Dosimetrists!
Radiation oncology has made remarkable strides β from IMRT to proton therapy β allowing us to treat with unprecedented precision.
For Head & Neck cancer patients, survival is only part of the story. Quality of life β the ability to taste food, smell a rose, detect danger, and simply feel human β matters just as much.
We routinely protect critical structures like: Brainstem, Spinal Cord, Optic Structures, Cochlea, and Parotids. Yet one structure remains under the radar:
The Olfactory Bulb
Loss of smell (anosmia) doesnβt just dull life β it disconnects people from joy, nutrition, memory, and even safety. With modern planning techniques, we have the power to do more than shrink tumors.
Letβs start the conversation: Should the olfactory bulb be on the list of OARs we protect Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)?