[Comment for the Chinese 2008 staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
The advantages of the Chinese 2008 staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma included as follows: 1.Application of MRI as the major staging means; discard of the subjective factors. 2.Adoption of some new independent predictor such as metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes and RTOG cervical levels. 3.Simplification of the T category. 4.Categorization of N and clinical substage can distinct the risk of distant metastasis and overall survival. All these changes adapted to the modern diagnosis and treatment pattern with a higher degree of practicality. Therefore, developing a prospective, multicenter clinical verification of the existing standards, thereby correcting itself, fulfill the developmental and scientific principles. It may improve as follows: 1.The definition of anatomical structure is restrictive such as nasal cavity and oropharynx, and the expression of masticator space is not intuitive. 2.Proof of evidence-based medicine for the size of lymph nodes included in the N category is insufficient. 3.The risk of local recurrence between the subgroups of T category was not significant. 4.Different definition of the index such as oropharynx and cervical level between the sixth edition UICC / AJCC staging system and the current system will hinder the international exchange of experience and information.
Sun
Ying
Y
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.
Ma
Jun
J
D002681:China; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010614:Pharynx