Ten-Year Experience with Linear Accelerator Irradiation of Cancer of the Nasopharynx

Abstract

In 47 previously untreated patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, curative doses of linear accelerator radiation were administered. The absolute survival rate without clinical evidence of disease was 27/47 (58%). More deaths resulted from intercurrent disease and metastases (11 patients) than from persistent primary and/or regional nodal disease (9 patients). Aggressive therapy of clinically involved and uninvolved cervical node disease is supported by 76% (28/37) and 98% (38/39) control rates, respectively. Curative irradiation by a variety of techniques resulted in an average survival of three years after retreatment, with only one local tumor recurrence at death. Second primary tumors occurred in 6 of 58 patients (10%).