Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy for locally recurrent nasopharynx cancer: report of three cases.

BACKGROUND

This article reports on experience with fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) for locally recurrent nasopharynx cancer.

METHODS

Three patients with locally recurrent nasopharynx cancer were given FSRT as reirradiation between September 1995 and August 1996. Application of FSRT was the third radiation therapy in two patients. Authors used the individually made relocatable Gill-Thomas-Cosman (GTC) stereotactic frame, and the radiation dose planning was performed using XKnife-3. The total doses to the recurrent tumor were 45 Gy/18 fractions in two patients, who were given concurrent chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer, and 50 Gy/20 fractions in the other patient. In all three patients the dose per fraction was 2.5 Gy, and the fraction schedule was to give five daily treatments per week.

RESULTS

Authors observed satisfactory symptomatic improvement and remarkable objective tumor size decrease through the magnetic resonance (MR) images taken one month post-FSRT in all three patients. No neurological side effect was observed. All three patients died with regional and distant seeding outside the FSRT field at seven, nine, and nine months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

FSRT as reirradiation for locally recurrent nasopharynx cancer seemed to be effective and safe.