ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the long-term effect and radiation side reaction of different boost methods in patients with local remnants of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma after curative radiotherapy Methods Based on the retrospective analysis , 102 patients with local remnants of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, after curative radiotherapy, were enrolled from February 2009 to May 2011. Forty-nine patients received gamma knife boost and 53 patients received 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The long-term effect and radiation side reaction were compared between the two groups. Results The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year relapse-free survival rate (RFS) in the gamma knife boost group and the 3D-CRT group was 97.8%, 90.0%, 80.8%, and 94.3%,76.1%,72.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). No significant differences of the overall survival and metastasis-free survival rate wer found in two groups , as well as the long-term radioactive reaction. Conclusion The gamma knife boost is better than 3D-CRT with respect to local control rate , but the long-term radiation side reactions were similar between the methods.