Intracavitary radiation treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by the high dose rate afterloading technique.

Sixty-four patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by various combinations of external irradiation with intracavitary radiotherapy using the high dose rate afterloading technique. The afterloading intracavitary radiation (AIR) was given as a routine boost or for residual or recurrent disease. The external irradiation dose varied from 45 to 70 Gy, whereas the AIR dose ranged from 10-50 Gy, depending on the nature of the primary nasopharyngeal lesion. The results were quite encouraging, although the longest follow-up so far has only been just over 4 years. Of 13 such cases that received external radiotherapy plus AIR as primary treatment, 12 have survived. However, of the 9 cases who received AIR for local recurrence after external radiotherapy, only 5 survived. Of the total of 64 cases treated by AIR from June 1981 to May 1986, 54 are alive. No serious radiation sequelae have been observed. It can be concluded that AIR for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is indicated for boosting the dose to the nasopharyngeal cavity with appropriate reduction in external irradiation dose, and for residual or recurrent disease after primary external radiotherapy.