Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

NPC is unique among head and neck cancers, in that it is radiocurable and moderately chemosensitive. Modern diagnostic techniques have facilitated tumor definition, with consequent improvement in staging accuracy and radiotherapy planning. Our standard radiotherapy technique incorporates routine prophylactic neck irradiation of early tumors. Special techniques for more advanced tumors are described. Neoadjuvant cis-platinum-containing chemotherapy has proved useful in controlling regional and distant metastatic disease.