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。

Long-term efficacy of prophylactic upper neck irradiation for stage N0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Whether prophylactic irradiation should cover the whole neck or just the upper neck for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, without neck lymph node metastasis (N0), remains controversial. This study was to assess the rationality of prophylactic upper neck irradiation for stage N0 NPC patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 432 stage N0 NPC patients were analyzed. All patients were treated with radical radiotherapy alone. The extent of prophylactic irradiation was limited to the upper neck of the patients. Median radiation doses were 70 Gy for the primary tumors, and 50 Gy for the upper necks. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival rates and neck recurrence rates. Log-rank test was used to compare neck recurrence rates in patients with or without nasopharyngeal recurrence. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the prognostic factors for neck control. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 432 patients had neck recurrence. The 5-year control rate of the neck was 96.06%. Among the 17 patients with neck recurrence, 6 had concurrent nasopharyngeal relapse. The occurrence rates of neck recurrence alone were 0.93%(4/432) in the upper necks and 1.62% (7/432) in the lower necks (P=0.937). The neck recurrence rates were 9.52% (6/63) and 2.98% (11/369) in patients with and without nasopharyngeal recurrence, respectively (P=0.002). Nasopharyngeal recurrence was the only independent prognostic factor for neck control. CONCLUSION: The overall neck recurrence rate is low for stage N0 NPC patients after receiving irradiation. Prophylactic upper neck irradiation is reasonable for stage N0 NPC patients.