Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Correlations with Prognostic Factors and Survival

Park,  Charn II; Park,  Woo Yoon; Kim,  Jong Sun

J Korean Soc Ther Radiol > Volume 7(1); 1989 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology 1989;7(1): 29-37.

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Correlations with Prognostic Factors and Survival

Charn II Park, Woo Yoon Park, Jong Sun Kim

¹Department of Therapeutic Radiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Otolaryngology College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

One hundred and ten patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx were treated by radiation therapy in Deoartment of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital between 1979 and 1985. Among these, one hundred and five patients were treated with curative intent and 5 patients with palliative aim. Excluding 16 patients who did not receive a full coarse of radiation therapy, the remaining 89 patients were reviewed for this analysis. Minimum follow-up period of survivors was 36 months. Forty-three percent of the patients had T4 primary lesions and 72% had stage IV disease. The histology was squamous cell carcinoma in 46% of the patients. undifferentiated carcinoma in 49%, and lymphoepithelioma in 5%. Total radiation dose to the primary site averaged 6,500 cCY for T1, T2 lesions and 7,500 cCY for T3, T4 lesions. Neck node were given boost treatment to a maximum 7,500 cCY depending on the extent of disease. Early primary lesion(T1, T2) and neck nodes were successfully controlled in most cases when dose of greater than 6,500 cGy was delievered. Forty two patients(47%) had recurred, 16 of whom(38%) recurred at the primary site and 24(57%) developed distant metastases. Of these, 9 patients received re-irradiation with or without chemotherapy and local control was obtained in 2 patients(22%). Actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 42% and 38% at 5 years. T-stage and histotogic subtype were not correlated with survival. However, N-stage was related to survival significantly(p=0.043).

Key Words: Nasophar yngeal Carcinoma, Prognostic factors, Survival