[Carcinomas of the Nasopharynx. Clinical aspects--treatment results--therapeutical improvements (author's transl)].

In the years from 1968-1977 to 44 out of 63 patients with carcinomas of the nasopharynx and to 15 out of 19 patients with malignant lymphomas of the nasopharynx curative radiation therapy was applied. The survival-rates for all carcinomas amount to 63,2% after 3 years, and to 46,5% after 5 years. Half of the patients live up to only 9% of their mean, age- and sex-dependent life expectancy. The prognosis differs with the histological type. Patients with transitional-cell-carcinomas had the smallest chance of survival; half of them did not survive. 0.08% of their age-dependent life expectancy. Skeletal infiltration and metastases of the cervical lymph nodes have a bad influence on the therapeutic results. Local recurrences developed in 20% of the patients. Using the examples of 3 patients, who don't belong to the analyzed collective, we shall discuss and optimize the radiotherapeutic management. As a result it is found out, that the megavoltage irradiation therapy (42 MeV X-rays) makes a better dose distribution in tumour-volume than cobalt 60 rays.