title: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: treatment results with primary radiation therapy.
abstract: One hundred three patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with radiotherapy at UCLA Medical Center from January 1955 to December 1990. Overall survival, disease-free survival, and local control rates were analyzed. In addition, survival from 1955 to 1978 and from 1979 to 1990 were evaluated. Overall 5- and 10-year actuarial survival rates for all patients were 58% and 47%, respectively. Disease-free survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 45% and 30%, respectively. Local, persistent, or recurrent disease in the nasopharynx was the primary cause of failure, occurring in 32% of patients and correlating with the initial tumor size (T stage). Twenty-four percent of patients developed distant metastases, which correlated with nodal status but not with T stage. Seventy-nine percent of patients failed either locally or distally by 4 years. Sex, race, age, and T and N stage categories were evaluated as prognostic variables in terms of survival. Control of primary disease is important in determining long-term outcome. Modern imaging techniques have greatly assisted in the evaluation of disease extent and treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bailet
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abemayor
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juillard
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes