Clinical and prognostic analysis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 44 children and adolescents

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 44 children and adolescents.Methods From June 1987 to December 2003,44 children and adolescents with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by radiotherapy,and some patients also received chemotherapy.Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival rate and univariate analysis,and Cox proportional hazard model was used in multivariate analysis.Results The 3,5 year survival rate was 84.2% and 62.3%.In the univariate analysis,clinical stage,lymph node(N)stage,radiotherapy dose and chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors of survival.In the multivariate analysis,N stage and chemotherapy were the prognostic factors in the survival rate.Conclusion Most nasopharyngeal carcinomas belong to the advanced degree.These patients are sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Combined modality therapy can improve the clinical effect of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and adolescents.