Volume 31, Issue 12 pp. 1610-1618
Original Article

Brachytherapy boost for T1/T2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Richard Yeo FRCR

Corresponding Author

Richard Yeo FRCR

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, SingaporeSearch for more papers by this author
Kam Weng Fong FRCR

Kam Weng Fong FRCR

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

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Siew Wan Hee MSc

Siew Wan Hee MSc

Department of Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

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Eu Tiong Chua FRCR

Eu Tiong Chua FRCR

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

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Terence Tan FRCR

Terence Tan FRCR

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

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Joseph Wee FRCR

Joseph Wee FRCR

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore

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First published: 17 June 2009
Citations: 12

Abstract

Background.

The aim of this study was to review our experience and demonstrate the safety of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICB) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods.

Hundred seventy-eight patients with early T1-2b disease underwent radical external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) followed by ICB boost. The primary tumor received 66 Gy of EBRT over 33 fractions using 6 or 10 MV photons. ICB insertions were performed 1 week later, delivering 10 Gy in 2 fractions over 8 days. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to calculate the actuarial 5-year overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival, local control, and disease-free survival (DFS).

Results.

Five-year local control rates were 91.6%. OS, DFS, and cause-specific survival were estimated to be 85.25%, 81.7%, and 87.9%, respectively. Median follow-up was 86 months. There were no documented serious complications noted with ICB.

Conclusion.

ICB boost supplementing radical EBRT is an excellent method of enhancing local control for patients with NPC with early T1-2b disease. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009

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