N0期鼻咽癌上半颈预防照射的长期随访结果

背景与目的:对N0期鼻咽癌患者的颈部预防照射,照射范围必须包括全颈还是上半颈,目前还存在争议。本研究的目的是通过回顾性分析评价N0期鼻咽癌半颈照射的合理性。方法:回顾性分析432例N0期鼻咽癌患者半颈预防照射颈部长期控制结果及相关因素。全部患者均接受根治性放疗,鼻咽中位剂量DT70Gy;颈部治疗范围只包括双侧上半颈,治疗中位剂量DT50Gy。Kaplan-Meier法计算相关生存率、颈部复发率,log-rank检验对颈部复发率差异进行分析,Cox比例风险模型进行多因素分析。结果:共有17例患者治疗后发生颈部淋巴结转移,颈部5年控制率96.06%;其中6例患者同时合并鼻咽部复发,11例单纯颈部复发。单纯野内和野外复发率分别为0.93%(4/432)和1.62%(7/432),两者差异无统计学意义(P=0.937)。63例患者有鼻咽复发,有鼻咽复发者的颈部复发率为9.52%(6/63),明显高于无鼻咽复发者的2.98%(11/371),两者差异有统计学意义(P=0.002)。多因素分析显示鼻咽复发是影响颈部控制的独立预后因素。结论:N0期鼻咽癌患者放射治疗后颈部复发率很低,颈部预防照射范围仅包括双上颈是合理的。     

N_0期鼻咽癌颈部照射的合适范围探讨

 目的　确定N0 期鼻咽癌颈部照射的合适范围。方法　回顾性分析 196例N0 期鼻咽癌病人治疗后颈部控制结果及相关因素。全部病例接受单纯根治性放疗 ,鼻咽中位剂量DT70Gy ;颈部治疗范围只包括双侧上半颈 ,治疗剂量DT( 4 0～ 72 )Gy(平均DT4 7Gy ,中位DT5 0GY)。 结果　共有 9例病人治疗后发生颈部淋巴结转移 ,颈部 5年控制率 96 .1%。其中 4例同时合并鼻咽部复发 ,单纯颈部复发 5例 ,单纯颈部复发率 2 .5 5 % ( 5 / 196 )。颈部治疗剂量低于DT4 5Gy组的颈部复发率为9.0 % ( 6 / 6 7)明显高于剂量高于DT4 5Gy组的2 .3% ( 3/ 12 9) ;有鼻咽复发者的颈部复发率 13.3% ( 4 / 33)明显高于无复发者的 3.0 % ( 5 / 16 6 ) ;以上差异有统计学意义。结论　N0 期鼻咽癌病人放射治疗后颈部复发率很低 ,颈部治疗范围包括双上颈已足够 ,治疗剂量应高于 4 5Gy。     

颈淋巴结阴性鼻咽癌颈部的放射治疗

背景与目的:颈淋巴结阴性鼻咽癌(简称N0鼻咽癌)约占全部鼻咽癌病例的20%～30%,对这部分患者,治疗规范是在照射鼻咽病灶的同时预防照射双上颈部。但有些研究者主张行全颈预防照射。本研究分析和比较上颈部预防照射和全颈预防照射的颈部复发率和生存率的影响,以探讨N0鼻咽癌颈部的放射治疗。方法:选取178例经病理组织学确诊的N0鼻咽癌患者,其中88例接受上颈预防照射(上颈照射组),90例接受全颈预防照射(全颈照射组)。用Kaplan-M eier和log-rank法计算和比较两组生存率,用Cox模型分析影响预后的因素。结果:上颈照射组和全颈照射组的1、3、5年生存率分别为98.9%、90.9%、80.7%和97.8%、80.0%、71.1%(P=0.224);1、3、5年无瘤生存率分别是93.2%、80.7%、77.3%和85.6%、68.9%、64.4%(P=0.163);颈部复发率分别是1.14%和1.08%(P>0.05)。多因素分析显示:性别、T分期和近期疗效是影响N0鼻咽癌预后的独立因素。结论:对于颈淋巴结阴性鼻咽癌患者只需作上颈预防性照射。     

The volume to be irradiated during selective neck irradiation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

For this report, the authors analyzed the spread pattern of lymph node (LN) metastases in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, the efficacy of selective neck irradiation was assessed based on the volume irradiated.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective review of data from 924 patients with newly diagnosed and nondisseminated NPC who underwent MRI and treatment between January 2003 and December 2004.

RESULTS:

According to the criteria for involved LNs detected by MRI, the incidence of LN metastases was 85.1% (786 of 924 patients). An analysis of the distribution of LN metastases in these 786 patients demonstrated that the retropharyngeal LNs (RLN) and Level II LNs were the most frequently involved regions, followed in order by Level III and Level V LNs, Level IV LNs, and supraclavicular fossa (SCF) LNs. In only 4 of 786 patients (0.5%) did metastasis skip LNs in their progression. In addition, 5 of 354 patients (1.4%) who had unilateral, higher level LN metastases (including RLNs and Level II LNs) had contralateral or bilateral, lower level LN involvement (including Level III, Level IV, Level V, and SCF LNs). In patients who had LN‐negative (N0) disease, the risks of regional recurrence and distant metastasis did not differ statistically between patients with inferior border of the neck irradiation field either at the cricoid cartilage or below the cricoid cartilage.

CONCLUSIONS:

By using MRI, LN metastases spread in an orderly fashion from higher level LNs to lower level LNs. The current results did not support prophylactic irradiation of Level IV and SCF LNs in patients who were negative for LN metastases, and these concepts need to be tested clinically before they may be recommended generally. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society.     

影响N0期鼻咽癌放射治疗后颈淋巴结复发因素分析

目的分析颈淋巴结阴性(N0)鼻咽癌放射治疗后颈淋巴结复发的影响因素。方法采用Logistic回归方法回顾性分析接受放射治疗的N0期鼻咽癌211例复发因素。结果211例N0期鼻咽癌放射治疗后49例复发。采用面颈联合野放射治疗,上颈预防剂量>50 Gy比面颈分野上颈剂量50 Gy者颈淋巴结复发率低（t=12.93,P=0.000)。咽旁间隙受侵,T分期高,颈淋巴结复发率高（t=14.91,P=0.001及t=8.78,P=0.003)。全颈预防照射比单纯上颈预防照射的下颈复发率低（χ     

Lymph node metastasis in maxillary sinus carcinoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of lymph node metastasis in maxillary sinus carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the records of 97 patients treated for maxillary sinus carcinoma with radiotherapy at Stanford University and at the University of California, San Francisco between 1959 and 1996. Fifty-eight patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 4 had adenocarcinoma (ADE), 16 had undifferentiated carcinoma (UC), and 19 had adenoid cystic carcinoma (AC). Eight patients had T2, 36 had T3, and 53 had T4 tumors according to the 1997 AJCC staging system. Eleven patients had nodal involvement at diagnosis: 9 with SCC, 1 with UC, and 1 with AC. The most common sites of nodal involvement were ipsilateral level 1 and 2 lymph nodes. Thirty-six patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy alone, and 61 received a combination of surgical and radiation treatment. Thirty-six patients had neck irradiation, 25 of whom received elective neck irradiation (ENI) for N0 necks. The median follow-up for alive patients was 78 months. RESULTS: The median survival for all patients was 22 months (range: 2.4-356 months). The 5- and 10-year actuarial survivals were 34% and 31%, respectively. Ten patients relapsed in the neck, with a 5-year actuarial risk of nodal relapse of 12%. The 5-year risk of neck relapse was 14% for SCC, 25% for ADE, and 7% for both UC and ACC. The overall risk of nodal involvement at either diagnosis or on follow-up was 28% for SCC, 25% for ADE, 12% for UC, and 10% for AC. All patients with nodal involvement had T3-4, and none had T2 tumors. ENI effectively prevented nodal relapse in patients with SCC and N0 neck; the 5-year actuarial risk of nodal relapse was 20% for patients without ENI and 0% for those with elective neck therapy. There was no correlation between neck relapse and primary tumor control or tumor extension into areas containing a rich lymphatic network. The most common sites of nodal relapse were in the ipsilateral level 1-2 nodal regions (11/13). Patients with nodal relapse had a significantly higher risk of distant metastasis on both univariate (p = 0.02) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 4.5, p = 0.006). The 5-year actuarial risk of distant relapse was 29% for patients with neck control versus 81% for patients with neck failure. There was also a trend for decreased survival with nodal relapse. The 5-year actuarial survival was 37% for patients with neck control and 0% for patients with neck relapse. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of lymph node involvement at diagnosis in patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma was 9%. Following treatment, the 5-year risk of nodal relapse was 12%. SCC histology was associated with a high incidence of initial nodal involvement and nodal relapse. None of the patients presenting with SCC histology and N0 necks had nodal relapse after elective neck irradiation. Patients who had nodal relapse had a higher risk of distant metastasis and poorer survival. Therefore, our present policy is to consider elective neck irradiation in patients with T3-4 SCC of the maxillary sinus.     

鼻咽癌咽旁侵犯程度划分方法对预后的影响

目的:探讨咽旁侵犯对鼻咽癌预后的影响,并对多种咽旁侵犯程度的划分方法进行比较,以寻求能较好反映预后的划分。方法:2000-01-2000-07经病理确诊的初治M0期鼻咽癌患者176例纳入研究。根据4种咽旁划分方法(闵氏、Sham氏、肖氏和Heng氏建议的划分)对咽旁间隙的侵犯程度划分,前瞻性研究其对鼻咽癌预后的影响。结果:鼻咽癌咽旁侵犯的发生率为81.8%(144/176)。有咽旁侵犯和无咽旁侵犯的5年总生存率分别是68.1%和90.2%(P=0.010),5年无瘤生存率分别是66.1%和87.2%(P=0.013),5年无远处转移生存率分别是76.7%和93.6%(P=0.032),5年无局部复发生存率分别是84.9%和93.1%,P=0.220。Cox模型多因素分析显示,咽旁是否侵犯并不是独立预后因素,然而根据程度分级后的咽旁侵犯是影响预后的独立因素。4种咽旁划分同时纳入Cox多因素分析显示,闵氏划分的咽旁侵犯是影响总生存的独立预后因素(HR:2.231;P=0.001),Sham氏划分的咽旁侵犯是影响无瘤生存(HR:1.487;P=0.010)和远处转移(HR:1.246;P=0.009)的独立预后因素...     

颅底补量放射对T4期鼻咽癌复发率的影响

背景与目的:有蝶窦、海绵窦侵犯的T4期鼻咽癌患者放疗后的颅底复发率较高。本研究探讨颅底补量对有蝶窦、海绵窦等侵犯的T4期鼻咽癌患者颅底复发率和生存率的影响。方法:从1996年10月至1998年11月,共有120例经病理组织学确诊为鼻咽癌、经CT诊断为筛窦、蝶窦或/和海绵窦侵犯的T4期鼻咽癌初治患者在我院住院接受放射治疗,鼻咽剂量为(71.55±3.09)Gy,颈部剂量为(58.95±6.16)Gy。其中27例在放射治疗后接受颅底补量6～10Gy(颅底补量组),93例未进行颅底补量(对照组)。有53例接受诱导化疗1～3疗程,其中对照组41例,颅底补量组12例。用Kaplan-Meier和log-rank法计算和比较两组生存率和局控率。结果:两组患者的临床资料比较无明显差别。对照组1、3、5年颅底控制率分别为93.4%、76.4%、65.1%,颅底补量组分别为100%、91.8%、86.8%,两组比较有显著性差异(P=0.045)。对照组1、3、5年无瘤生存率分别75.3%、45.2%、31.2%,中位无瘤生存期为30个月,颅底补量组分别为85.2%、59.3%、51.9%,中位无瘤生存期为60个月,两组比较无明显差异(P=0.084),对照组与颅底补量组的放射性脑损伤发生率分别为4.3%和7.4%,两组间无明显差异(P=0.514)。结论:颅底放射补量可减少蝶窦、海绵窦等侵犯的T4期鼻咽癌患者的颅底复发,对提高无瘤生存率有一定的益处,此类患者宜给予颅底补量。     

Experience in fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy boost for newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy is the most effective treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) boost for NPC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty-four patients with newly diagnosed, nonmetastatic NPC were treated with conventional radiotherapy 64.8-68.4 Gy followed by fractionated SBRT boost 12-15 Gy between January 2002 and July 2004. Most patients (72%) presented with Stage III-IV disease. Fifty-two patients also received cisplatin-based concurrent (38) or neoadjuvant (14) chemotherapy. The major endpoints were local control, overall survival, and complications. RESULTS: All patients finished the planned dose of radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 31 months (range, 22-54), 15 patients developed tumor recurrences--3 in the nasopharynx, 4 in the neck, 5 in distant sites, 1 in both nasopharynx and neck, 2 in the neck and a distant site. The 3-year actuarial rate of local control was 93.1%, regional control 91.4%, freedom from distant metastasis 90.3%, and overall survival 84.9%, respectively. There were no Grade 4 acute or chronic radiation-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated SBRT boost for NPC is technically feasible and provides good local control without any severe complications.     

Treatment results of stage I oral tongue cancer with definitive radiotherapy

The medical records of 133 patients with Stage I tongue cancer treated by definitive radiotherapy between 1966 and 2001 were reviewed. Overall survival rate (OS), progression free survival rate (PFS), and survival rate after recurrence were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. We investigated prognostic factors for local control and risk factors of late neck LN metastasis. The 5-year OS was 81.8% and the 5-year PFS was 67.2%. The 5-year OS after local recurrence was 100% by salvage operation, and that after neck LN metastasis was 40.7% despite radical neck dissection. Tumor thickness over 5 mm and treatment without interstitial irradiation were prognostic factors for local control. Tumor diameter over 15 mm and tumor thickness over 5 mm were risk factors of late neck LN metastasis. We should consider prophylactic treatment for neck LN for high risk patients with Stage I tongue cancer in order to improve treatment results further.     

Treatment of stage I nasopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of the patterns of relapse and the results of withholding elective neck irradiation

This is a retrospective analysis of 196 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma Stage I (Ho's classification) treated by megavoltage radiation during 1980-1984. The primary target volume included all potential sites of local invasion and the first station lymph nodes at retropharyngeal spaces. Two different dose schedules were used, both gave a total tumor dose biologically equivalent to 65 Gy by conventional fractionation, and both achieved a 5-year actuarial local-recurrence-free survival of 88%. Elective neck irradiation was withheld in all except seven patients. The overall 7-year actuarial survival was 85%, but the relapse-free survival was only 62%. The patterns of relapse, prognostic factors, and treatment complications were analyzed. Eighteen patients (9%) recurred locally. Radical retreatment with radiation achieved complete remission in seven out of fifteen cases. Distant failure occurred in 17 patients (9%). Although 57 (30%) of the 189 patients without elective neck irradiation subsequently showed lymph node involvement, none of the seven regionally-treated patients relapsed. The successful regional salvage rate was 81% overall (46 out of 57 patients), but 90% (44 of 49) for those properly treated with whole neck irradiation. However, the 7-year actuarial survival was lower in patients with nodal relapse than those without (70% versus 87%) because of the associated higher incidence of hematogenous dissemination. The various aspects of treatment, the value of elective neck irradiation in particular, are discussed.     

鼻咽癌尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物及VEGF 表达与侵袭转移关系

 目的　探讨鼻咽癌 ( NPC)组织尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物 ( u PA)及血管内皮细胞生长因子 ( VEGF)表达与癌生物学行为的关系。方法　采用免疫组织化学方法检测了 45例 NPC组织中的 u PA及 VEGF表达。结果　NPC有淋巴结转移组 u PA及 VEGF的阳性率较无淋巴结转移组高 ,复发或远处转移组与无复发组之间有显著性差异 ;u PA与 VEGF表达有相关性 ( P<0 .0 5 )。结论　u PA与 VEGF与鼻咽癌的浸润及转移密切相关 ,在鼻咽癌的发生、发展和转移过程中可能起促进作用.     

Postoperative elective nodal irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: outcome and prognostic factors for regional recurrence

BackgroundThis study describes the results of elective irradiation in the N0 neck and tries to identify prognostic factors for regional recurrence.Materials and methodsBetween 1985 and 2000, 785 cN0 or pN0 necks were treated with elective nodal irradiation in 619 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.ResultsRegional control at 3 years was 94% in the cN0 (nondissected) neck compared with 97% in the pN0 (dissected) neck and 90% in the ipsilateral compared with 96% in the contralateral neck (P = 0.08 and P = 0.006, respectively). Regional control in the ipsilateral cN0 neck was 78% compared with 96% in the contralateral cN0 neck. Surgical margin of the primary tumor was an additional prognostic factor in all N0 and pN0 necks.ConclusionsNeck control rates in electively irradiated N0 necks were excellent. Regional control was worse in the cN0 neck compared with the pN0 neck and in the ipsilateral neck compared with the contralateral side. Additionally, in case of positive surgical margins of the primary tumor, elective nodal irradiation should be applied, even in case of a pN0 neck.     

Analysis of prognostic factors and patterns of recurrence in patients with pathologic stage III endometrial cancer

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess prognostic factors and patterns of recurrence in patients with pathologic Stage III endometrial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1989 and 2003, 107 patients with pathologic International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage III endometrial adenocarcinoma confined to the pelvis were treated at our institution. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was delivered to 68 patients (64%). The influence of multiple patient- and treatment-related factors on pelvic and distant control and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. RESULTS: Median follow-up for patients at risk was 41 months. Five-year actuarial OS was significantly improved in patients treated with adjuvant RT (68%) compared with those with resection alone (50%; p = 0.029). Age, histology, grade, uterine serosal invasion, adnexal involvement, number of extrauterine sites, and treatment with adjuvant RT predicted for improved survival in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that grade, uterine serosal invasion, and treatment with adjuvant RT were independent predictors of survival. Five-year actuarial pelvic control was improved significantly with the delivery of adjuvant RT (74% vs. 49%; p = 0.011). Depth of myometrial invasion and treatment with adjuvant RT were independent predictors of pelvic control in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple prognostic factors predicting for the outcome of pathologic Stage III endometrial cancer patients were identified in this analysis. In particular, delivery of adjuvant RT seems to be a significant independent predictor for improved survival and pelvic control, suggesting that pelvic RT should be routinely considered in the management of these patients.     

Salvage surgery for cervical residual and recurrent lesions of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy

Recently, in spite of the great progress made in the radiotherapy for NPC, there remains 10 approximately 20% of patients who would die of their cervical lesions, either residual or recurrent after irradiation. It is well known that the skin of the neck can not tolerate too high a dose of radiation and the cervical metastatic lymph nodes of NPC may be less sensitive to radiation than the primary. From April 1977 to March 1987, 79 NPC patients with persistent cervical lymph node metastasis after irradiation were treated by salvage surgery (31 residual and 48 recurrent cancers). Most of the lesions were located in the upper neck (64 cases) and a few along the margin of previous radiation field, such as submaxillary or posterior cervical triangle. Of the 69 patients treated by salvage neck dissection, 38 were confirmed pathologically to have soft tissues involvement, such as sternocleidomastoid, digastric, splenius, and levator scapular muscles, and 2 had hypoglossus nerve and carotid sheath involvement. The authors emphasized that all the involved tissues, such as skin, muscle, nerve or jugular vein should be resected completely. If the neck defect could not be closed primarily, the pectoral major myocutaneous flap (7 cases) or lateral trapezius myocutaneous flap (3 cases) were used for repair. There were no postoperative complications. 32 patients were followed over 3 years with a 3-year survival rate of 34% (11/32). 43 were followed less than 3 years. 31 were alive and 12 were dead.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Patterns of failure in nasopharyngeal cancer treated with megavoltage irradiation

From 1976 to 1982, 78 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) were treated with definitive megavoltage irradiation in accordance with a uniform protocol. The results of treatment were analyzed and prognostic factors reviewed. The incidence of primary failures was directly related to the extent of nasopharyngeal disease, since the relapse rate was 11% in T1T2 patients compared with 37.5% in T3T4 patients. Similarly, failure in the neck correlated with the N stage, being negligible for N0 and N1, while 35.7% for N3. The presence of bulky cervical nodes was associated with a higher risk for metastases: hematogenous dissemination occurred in 50% of N3B patients. The histology pattern seemed to significantly affect the ultimate outcome of patients with NPC, since disease-free survival was 65.5% in patients with a diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) and 23.8% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SC). The major cause of poor survival in this latter patient group was not only a higher recurrence rate of both primary and nodal disease but a greater incidence of distant metastases as well.     

612例鼻咽癌放射治疗预后因素分析

 目的 1973年1月至1987年12月我院共放射治疗鼻咽癌612例,本文对其结果 及影响预后的因素予以分析。全组总的5年生存率42．2％。性别、年龄对预后无明显影响,病期、原发肿瘤超胜,预淋巴结转移、颅神经受损和照射剂量是主要的预后因素。随着病期变晚,5年生存率逐渐下降,Ⅰ、Ⅱ期的5年生存率明显高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ期（P＜0．01）。肿瘤局限于鼻咽腔者的预后明显好于超腔者（P＜0．01）。前后组颅神经同时受累预后最差。预淋巴结转移的大小、单双侧、部位、活动或固定对预后有不同的影响。放疗剂量应以65－75Gy／6．5－7．5周为宜。本组资料证明,鼻咽癌放疗失败的主要原因是远处转移与局部复发。     

110例鼻咽癌原发灶部位、体征和鼻咽、颅底CT关系探讨

目的：探讨鼻咽癌原发灶部位、体征与鼻咽、颅底CT关系。材料与方法：分析1993年12月至1995年10月我院收治的110例鼻咽癌之临床表现及鼻咽、颅底CT扫描。结果：茎突内侧软组织受侵率为87．3％（96／110），颈淋巴结转移率为77．3％。原发灶位于侧壁单侧颈淋巴结转移为52．9％（18／34），双侧颈淋巴结转移为35．4％（12／34）；原发灶位于顶侧壁单侧颈淋巴结转移为48．4％（17／35），双侧颈淋巴结转移为40．0％（14／35）。鼻咽癌除了直接向各壁和周围邻近组织发展蔓延外，咽旁间隙受侵和颈淋巴结转移有直接关系。鼻咽癌原发灶部位与颈淋巴结转移亦有关。本组资料还说明茎突内侧软组织受侵的侧别对颈深上淋巴结转移和前后组颅神经损害有一定关系。     

Radiation therapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid area lymph nodes: dose and volume considerations

PURPOSE: The intraparotid and periparotid lymph nodes are the most commonly involved when skin cancer of the head and neck metastasizes beyond the primary site. We sought to report the clinical outcome of patients treated with radiation therapy for parotid-area metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 36 patients treated with radiation therapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid-area lymph nodes were reviewed. All patients had clinically N0 necks and were without evidence of distant disease. Thirty patients (83%) were treated postoperatively after gross total tumor resection. Median dose to the parotid area was 60 Gy (range, 50-72 Gy). Treatment of clinically N0 necks consisted of surgical dissection (7 patients), irradiation (15 patients), and observation (14 patients). RESULTS: The 5-year estimate of local (parotid) control was 86% in patients treated using surgery with postoperative therapy and 47% in patients treated using radiation therapy alone. Three of 4 patients with tumors that relapsed locally after surgery and postoperative radiation received a dose of less than 60 Gy. Elective neck irradiation decreased the incidence of subsequent nodal failures from 50% to 0% and significantly improved neck control (p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival rate was 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery followed by radiation therapy to doses of at least 60 Gy results in effective local control for patients with parotid area metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Routine irradiation of the clinically N0 neck is recommended.     

N-staging by magnetic resonance imaging for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: pattern of nodal involvement by radiological levels.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To study the pattern of lymphatic spread for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the significance of retropharyngeal node (RP-LN) involvement, and the possibility of replacing the supraclavicular fossa (SCF) by Levels IV and Vb (LL) as a demarcating criterion for N3-category. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The magnetic resonance imagings (MRI) of 202 consecutive patients with NPC treated during 2001-2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Distribution in terms of radiological level (using the same criteria as other head and neck cancers) was mapped, and the size of individual node measured. Prognostic significance of RP-LN and LL was analyzed. RESULTS: Only 4% of patients were node-negative on presentation. The nodal involvement occurred predominately at II (94%), III (85%) and RP-LN (80%). The presence of RP-LN affected the N-category in 3.5% of patients, and had no significant impact on tumor control. Replacing SCF by LL as one of the criteria for defining N3 is predictive for both distant control and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: With sensitive detection by MRI, the incidence of nodal involvement was very high for patients with NPC. It was difficult to isolate the prognostic significance of RP-LN. The current criterion for defining N3-category by extension into SCF or nodal size > 6 cm is the recommended standard, however replacing SCF with LL could be potentially useful and further validation is warranted.