title: [Clinical and prognostic analysis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 44 children and adolescents].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical effect and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 44 children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1987 to December 2003,44 children and adolescents with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by radiotherapy, and some patients also received chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival rate and univariate analysis, and Cox proportional hazard model was used in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3.5 year survival rate was 84.2% and 62.3%.In the univariate analysis, clinical stage, lymph node (N) stage, radiotherapy dose and chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors of survival.In the multivariate analysis, N stage and chemotherapy were the prognostic factors in the survival rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most nasopharyngeal carcinomas belong to the advanced degree. These patients are sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Combined modality therapy can improve the clinical effect of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 41008, China. hongjidong1966@126.com
authors.forename: Ji-dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yu-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xue-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hai-jiao
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis