Salvage surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of salvage surgery for patients with primary recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Academic tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Eighteen consecutive patients with primary recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation failure underwent nasopharyngectomy for cure via a facial translocation approach from July 1, 1993, to December 31, 1999. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 71 months. Five patients with skull base invasion required a combined neurosurgical approach to treatment. Seven patients had additional postoperative radiotherapy.


RESULTS
The actuarial 3-year survival was 57%, while the local control was 78%. Four of 5 patients who had skull base invasion achieved local control. There was no surgical mortality, and the morbidity was 22%.


CONCLUSIONS
Advances in skull base surgery make possible the effective control of primary recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with acceptable mortality and morbidity.
Hao
Sheng-Po
SP
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyua, Taiwan, Republic of China. shengpo@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Tsang
Ngan-Ming
NM
Chang
Chen-Nen
CN
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis