[Invasion of poststyloid space and metastasis of deep upper cervical lymph node in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
From March 1985 to September 1988, 38 out-patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), proven by pathology and examined by CT scan or MRI with involvement of deep upper cervical lymph nodes larger than 2 cm, were treated. The invasion of the poststyloid space is probably caused by metastases of the lymph nodes deep-seated in the neck and not by direct infiltration of the primary tumor. In TNM staging, it should be considered as N1, but not T3. As to the design of radiotherapy for these cases, the upper margin of the cervical field should be moved up to the level of the external auditory meatus in order to encompass the base of the skull. If lymph nodes in the mastoid cells on the same side are involved, beta-beams with energy not lower than 15 Mev should be used to ensure enough dose in the target volume.
Cancer Hospital, Zhongshan Medical College, Guangzhou.
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Guan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001610:Beta Particles; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed