Study on change of multimodally evoked potentials in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy

Objective To investigate possible changes of multimodally evoked potentials in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy. Methods Altogether 48 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patiens receiving primary conventional external beam irradiation were examined before and after radiotherapy to determine their brainstem auditory\|evoked potential(BAEP),short\|latency somatosensory\|evoked potential(SLSEP)and pattern reversal visual\|evoked potential(PRVEP). Results In comparion with the conditions before radiotherapy,in different periods after radiotherapy abnormal peak latency and interval latency difference were found in BAEP,SLSEP and PRVEP. Conclusion Nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotheray may cause abnormal function of nerve conduction in early periods,which can be showed by BAEP,SLSEP,PRVEP,and injury can be timely detected if the three evoked potentials are used together.Thus we suggest BAEP,SLSEP,PRVEP should be examined in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during and after the radiotherapy so as to find early damage in auditory somatosensory and visual conduction pathways.\;