An analysis of outcomes, after re-irradiation by HDR (high-dose-rate) brachytherapy, among patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)

Despite aggressive treatment with radiotherapy, which is often combined with chemotherapy, local persistence occurs in 18–40% of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Brachytherapy is one of the methods for the re-treatment of patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of HDR (high-dose-rate) treatment of patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The study took the form of a retrospective analysis and included a group of 28 patients treated in the Brachytherapy Department of the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz during the years 1995–2000. Brachytherapy was carried out using a Rotterdam applicator and the MicroSelectron HDR apparatus produced by Nucletron. Irradiation was based on doses of 36 Gy, i.e. 6 Gy applied once a week, and 51 Gy i.e. 3 Gy applied twice a week. This paper presents recovery probability, overall survival and recurrence-free survival within the analysed group of patients. The results obtained prove intracavitary HDR (high-dose-rate) brachytherapy to be a viable method for the treatment of patients with recurring nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The higher the total dose applied by means of brachytherapy, the greater the chance of locally successful treatment, moreover, the time that elapses before recurrence is considered to be an important factor influencing recurrence-free survival time.