Results of Radiation Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Cancer / 대한방사선종양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1989 to October 1996, 19 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma completed planned radiation therapy course. Stages were I in 2 patients, II in 6, III in 2 IV in 9 patients, respectively. Pathology was squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients, undifferentiated cell carcinoma in 14 patients. Fourteen patients were treated with radiation therapy only. Five patients received chemotherapy. The follow-up period ranged from 5 months to 115 months with a median of 33 months. Follow-up was possible in all patients. RESULTS: Responses to radiation therapy were complete response in 15 patients, partial response in 2, and no response in 2, respectively. Patterns of failure were as follows locoregional recurrence in 6 patients and distant metastasis in 4 patients. The sites of distant metastasis were bone, liver and lung. Five year survival rate was 47.8% and five year disease free survival rate was 48.1%. Stage, T-stage, N-stage, central nervous system involvement, pathology type, performance status, response, radiation dose, chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: 5-year survival rate was 47.8% and 5-year disease free survival rate was 48.1%. The advances in radiation therapy techniques and chemotherapy are needed.