Caution on the use of altered fractionation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Randomized trials and overviews on the value of altered fractionation for head and neck cancers are reviewed. Attention is drawn to the unexpectedly high incidence of temporal lobe necrosis incurred in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Preliminary analyses suggest that incomplete repair is likely to be the major factor, even a 6-h interfraction interval may be inadequate if substantial volumes of nervous tissues are included within the target volume.
Lee
A W
AW
Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Sze
W M
WM
Fowler
J F
JF
Chappell
R
R
Leung
S F
SF
Teo
P
P
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009336:Necrosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors