[Value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for locally persistent or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for locally residual and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
Between July 1998 and October 2000, 36 patients with recurrent or residual NPC confirmed by biopsy after initial radiotherapy underwent treatment with 3D-CRT. CT simulation was performed and (18)FDG-PET carried out for delineating the gross tumor volume (GTV) in all the patients. The radiotherapy was designed by 3D treatment planning system and dose-volume histogram (DVH) was used to verify and optimize the radiation plan. Acute and late radiation injuries, survival rates and GTV delineated by CT and (18)FDG-PET were observed in all the cases after the treatment.


RESULTS
In comparison with CT simulation, (18)FDG-PET delineated similar GTV in 36.1% (13/36) cases, larger and smaller GTV in 16.7% (6/36) and 47.2% (17/36) of the cases, respectively. After 3D-CRT, 97.2%, 75.0%, and 58.3% of the patients were free of evidence of 1-, 2-, and 3-year local failure, respectively, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate of the patients were 94.4%, 86.1%, and 72.0%. The 1-, 2-, 3-year tumor-free survival rates were 85.7%, 76.6%, and 56.1% respectively. Acute xerostomia, nasopharyngitis and oropharyngitis were the most common complications in relation to the radiation, but all within acceptable range of grades 1 or 2. The lesions resulting from the radiation included hearing loss, trismus, dysphagia, chronic sinusitis, and cranial neuropathy, with the incidences of 5.6% (2/36), 25.0% (9/36), 8.3% (3/36), 33.3% (12/36), and 13.9% (5/36) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
3D-CRT combined with (18)FDG-PET for delineation of GTV is effective and feasible in the treatment of locally residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after initial radiotherapy, producing good responses without serious complications.
Ding
Yi
Y
Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Wu
De-hua
DH
Chen
Long-hua
LH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18