[Prospective study on long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary radiotherapy on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The dose distribution of brachytherapy is different from that of external radiotherapy. Combining these 2 modalities can enhance the conform degree of dose distribution. This study was to evaluate long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary irradiation on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A total of 321 patients were randomized into 2 groups: 223 in simplex group were given conventional irradiation in total doses of 66-74 Gy with lead block fitful fields; 98 in combination group were given the same external irradiation in total doses of 58-62 Gy and 15-20 Gy intracavitary irradiation. RESULTS: Within 5-year follow-up, in simplex group, 16 patients had tumor relapsed at the nasopharynx and 35 died, with 5-year overall survival rates of 90.63% for stage I patients and 80.82% for stage II patients (P=0.018)û in combination group, 1 patient had tumor relapsed at the nasopharynx and 6 died, with 5-year overall survival rates of 95.24% for stage I patients and 93.36% for stage II patients (P=0.025). There were fewer adverse events in combination group. CONCLUSION: The long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary radiotherapy on stage I-II NPC is better than that of conventional external radiotherapy alone with fewer adverse events.