Patterns of failure in carcinoma of the nasopharynx. 1. Failure at the primary site

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(85)90332-3· OSTI ID:5228671

Vikram, B; Mishra, U B; Strong, E W; Manolatos, S

Between 1970 and 1980, the authors treated 107 previously untreated patients with biopsy proven carcinoma of the nasopharynx by megavoltage external radiation therapy to the primary site, base of the skull and both sides of the neck. Fifty-three percent of the patients had T4 primaries and 87% had Stage IV disease. The dose of irradiation to the primary site ranged from 5700 to 7700 rad. Fifty-five patients have suffered relapse of the cancer, 33 of whom (60%) relapsed at the primary site. Seventy-two percent of the relapses at the primary site appeared within two years after treatment and 91 percent within 3 years. Median survival following relapse at the primary site was 10 months. Those patients who received a dose to the primary between 5700 and 6700 rad had a lower rate of local control than those who received a dose between 6700 and 7700 rad. However, regardless of the dose, those patients whose radiation therapy was interrupted (for whatever reason) for a total of three weeks or longer had poorer local control than those patients whose treatment was not so interrupted. These data suggest that a high rate of local control is possible in carcinoma of the nasopharynx, even with T4 disease, if a sufficiently high dose of radiation therapy is delivered without undue interruptions. Mucous membrane reactions were the primary side effect.

• Research Organization: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Valhalla, NY
• OSTI ID: 5228671
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 11:8; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARCINOMAS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEAD
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEDICINE
MEMBRANES
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
NECK
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PHARYNX
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
X RADIATION