Retrospective analysis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the treatment outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) by external irradiation and intracavitary brachytherapy.METHODS:A total of 171 cases of NPC treated by 60Co irradiation followed by high-dose-rate 192Ir intracavitary brachytherapy from Jan.1997 to Oct.2002 were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS:The 5-year survival rate was 72.88% for the total cases,and were 100.0%,86.75% and 64.45% for stagesⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ,respectively.The P value was 0.000 8.For 108 patients without residual tumor at the end of external irradiation,the 5-year survival was significantly higher than that for 63 patients with residual tumor(82.24% vs 63.53%,P=0.026 2).The dose of brachytherapy higher than 8 Gy had a significant effect on long term survival.No patients developed severe complication,such as perforation of soft palate,mass bleeding of nasopharynx,and necrosis of sphenoid bone.CONCLUSIONS:The combination of external irradiation and intracavitary brachytherapy increases the local control and survival rates,especially for cases with residual tumor after external irradiation.Brachytherapy with higher doses has a significant effect on long term survival.