title: [Prospective study on long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary radiotherapy on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The dose distribution of brachytherapy is different from that of external radiotherapy. Combining these 2 modalities can enhance the conform degree of dose distribution. This study was to evaluate long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary irradiation on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 321 patients were randomized into 2 groups: 223 in simplex group were given conventional irradiation in total doses of 66-74 Gy with lead block fitful fields; 98 in combination group were given the same external irradiation in total doses of 58-62 Gy and 15-20 Gy intracavitary irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 5-year follow-up, in simplex group, 16 patients had tumor relapsed at the nasopharynx and 35 died, with 5-year overall survival rates of 90.63% for stage I patients and 80.82% for stage II patients (P=0.018)û in combination group, 1 patient had tumor relapsed at the nasopharynx and 6 died, with 5-year overall survival rates of 95.24% for stage I patients and 93.36% for stage II patients (P=0.025). There were fewer adverse events in combination group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary radiotherapy on stage I-II NPC is better than that of conventional external radiotherapy alone with fewer adverse events.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China. cxpgz@tom.com
authors.forename: Xin-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Tai-Xiang
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Nian-Ji
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes