ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics and effects of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) following radiotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical characteristics and effects in 14 NPC patients (15 ears) with sudden sensorineural hearing loss following radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sudden sensorineural hearing loss happened more in male subjects than female subjects and more in the left ear than the right ear. Its occurrence time was averaged 6.6 years following radiotherapy. Most of the patients suffered hearing loss prior to the sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz average hearing thresholds: sudden hearing loss ears (78.5 ± 24.7) dBHL, none-sudden hearing loss ears (57.0 ± 32.4) dBHL, among which, 73.33% (11/15) for sensorineural hearing loss, 26.67% (4/15) for mixed hearing loss. 12 cases had complications following radiotherapy. At least one case had posterior circulation barrier. The total effective rate was 26.67% (4/15) and four cases had relapsed and in vain thereafter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In NPC patients who received radiotherapy, it caused more serious sudden sensorineural hearing loss and the treatment effects were poor and hearing loss was susceptible to relapse. The pathogenesis may be related to the radiation caused posterior circulation disorders.</p>