Progress on delineation of clinical target volume of primary tumour of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Accurate delineation of clinical target volume (CTV) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is of significance to prevent local recurrence and improve the survival rate of patients. When intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was first introduced, CTV was delineated based on two-dimensional radiotherapy experience. The local recurrence-free survival is high, but the adverse reactions induced by radiotherapy are severe and the patients’ quality of life is poor. How to reduce CTV to alleviate acute and late radiotherapy-induced adverse reactions without deteriorating therapeutic effect has currently become a research hotspot. Despite the 2010 Chinese Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma IMRT Target and Dose Design Guideline Expert Consensus and the International Guideline for the Delineation of the CTV for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma as references, the optimal individualized and standardized delineation of CTV remains controversial. This review summarizes the progress on the delineation of CTV of primary tumour of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, aiming to provide practical reference for clinicians.