[Effects on vestibular function by irradiation in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects on vestibular function by irradiation in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.


METHODS
Twenty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were routinely irradiated with dose of 70 Gy (3 cases > 70 Gy).


RESULTS
Nine cases (45%) were abnormal in vestibular function test after radical irradiation in 20 cases (spontaneous nystagmus n = 3; unlateral canal paresis n = 4; bilateral canal paresis n = 2; bilateral vestibular function absent n = 2). The other 11 cases(55%) were normal in vestibular function test.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular function may be damaged after radical irradiation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. During professional identification, this factor must be respected and vestibular function, cochlear function and tubal function must be separately evaluated.
Xu
X R
XR
Department of Otolaryngology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing 100036.
Tan
Z L
ZL
Chen
J
J
Liu
H F
HF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*