Clinical Observation of Brachytherapy on Intracavitary Residual Tumors in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms

Objective To observe the value of brachytherapy on intracavitary residual tumors in patients with na-sopharyngeal neoplasms after external radiation therapy. Methods 120 cases all proved as nasopharyngeal neoplasms were treated with brachytherapy(15 ~ 30GY) .These cases all had intracavitary residual tumors after full external radiation therapy. Results 3 months after brachytherapy, the overall regression rate of the residual tumors was 91.7% , and partial regression rate was 8.3% .The 1,3, 5 year survival rates were 90.0% ,70.0% ,58.3% respectively.The major complications of treatment were nasal obstruction, dryness of nasopharynx. Conclusion Brachytherapy is effective in the treatment of the residual nasopharyngeal neoplasms, especially for patients at an early stage. But it is unsatisfied for late extracavitary tumors.