[Local failures of nasopharynx carcinoma: Anatomoclinical aspects and therapeutic results]

Abstract

Purpose: Retrospective analysis of clinical aspects and therapeutic results of nasopharynx cancer local failures.

Patients and methods: Forty patients with local failure with or without nodal involvement of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated between 1993 and 2013. Reirradiation of nasopharynx was delivered at the dose of 60Gy. Platinum-based chemotherapy was indicated in case of locally advanced disease and/or associated nodal failure.

Results: The mean age at diagnosis of primitive tumour was 41.9 years (26-67 years). The mean time of relapse occurrence was 31.7 months (6-104 months). Sixty five percent of failures were confined to the nasopharynx. Nodal failure was seen in 14 cases. Twenty-eight patients had chemotherapy. Twenty-five patients had reirradiation of nasopharynx. Mean follow-up was 98 months (12-191 months). Fourteen patients were still alive and in complete remission. Five-year survival was 40.7%. Xerostomia was the most frequent late toxicity. No haemorrhage was seen.

Conclusion: Reirradiation is the mainstay treatment of nasopharyngeal local failure. Late toxicity seems to decrease with novel techniques of reirradiation.

Keywords: Cancer; Failure; Local; Nasopharynx; Récidive; Traitement; Treatment.