[Clinical analysis of xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation therapy].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: There is few report on the xerostomia of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. Xerostomia is a serious, permanent, and ubiquitous sequelae in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. It has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. This study was designed to investigate the severity of xerostomia and its impact on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated by conventional radiation therapy in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, were surveyed by interview at the outpatient. A questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used in analysis of xerostomia and xerostomia-related problems. RESULTS: Of 136 patents, 73.5% of the patients experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. 82.4% of the patients had to sip water to facilitate speech; 92.6% of the patients had to sip water to facilitate chewing and swallowing; 91.2% of the patients changed their feeding pattern (can eat only mashed food); 61.3% of the patients had to wake up to drink water because of dry mouth; 75.0% of the patients had teeth deteriorated. CONCLUSION: 73.5% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. Xerostomia has a significant impact on the patient's speech, deglutition, sleep, and increases the morbidity rate of the tooth.

[Indication and clinical radical effect of functional neck dissection for head and neck neoplasm].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The functional neck dissection was first described by Bocca in 1967. It has been used on clinical practice for years. But still controversial between supporters and opponents of functional neck dissection. This study was designed to evaluate application and radical effectiveness of functional neck dissection(FND). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two cases underwent FND were reviewed with analysis of pathological specimen and follow-up data. RESULT: One hundred and fifty-two cases of FND include tongue carcinoma 20 cases, larynx carcinoma 23 cases, thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma 96 cases, follicular adenocarcinoma 9 cases, medullary adenocarcinoma 4 cases; Five years recurrence rate of tongue and larynx carcinoma was 12.5%, 14.3%, 40.0% and 20%, 16.7%, 50.0% in N0, N1, N2, respectively. 5 years recurrence rate of thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma is 6.5%, 7.1% in N1a, N1b, respectively. CONCLUSION: Functional neck dissection is suitable for head and neck neoplasm, was result in satisfactory radical effects.

[Review of relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C & D and lymph node metastasis of malignant tumor].

The mechanism and inhibition of lymph node metastasis of malignant tumor are one of the research hot points. There are many researches indicating that vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor-D(VEGF-D) were closely associated with lymph node metastasis of malignant tumor. This article mainly reviewed the structures, functional characteristics, possible mechanisms of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in lymph node metastasis, and current progress of inhibition of lymph node metastasis of malignant tumor.