Short-and long-term therapeutic effects of brachytherapy on intracavitary residual tumor in 563 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients

Objective: To evaluate the effect of brachytherapy intracavitary residual tumor on patients with NPC after radiation therapy. Methods: Five hundred sixty three NPC with residual tumor in the nasopharynx were treated with large dose of brachytherapy (20–25 Gy). The treatment results were retropectively evaluated. Results: Within 3 months after brachytherapy, the overall regression rate of the residual tumor was 90.4%. Upon long-term follow-up, the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 89. 65%, 67.01% and 55.42%, respectively. The major complications of the after-loading treatment were nasal obstruction (16.2%), necrosis of the nasopharynx (0.9%) and perforation of soft foliate in 2 patients. Conclusion Brachytherapy is effective in the treatment of residual NPC especially in patients in early stage. It may not be helpful to stage IV patients.