A comparative observational study of intensity modulated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer

Objective To observe the acute radioreaction and clinical effect of intensity modulated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer. Methods Total 72 cases of nasopharyngeal cancer in our hospital between June,2012 and November,2014 were enrolled and divided into control group and observation group with 36 cases in each group.The control group accepted the conventional radiotherapy;while the observation group accepted intensity modulated radiotherapy,for 1 time/day and 5 days/week.Both groups adopted synchronous chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy with PF regimen (cis-platinum 30 mg/m²,d_1-d_3;5Fu 500 mg/m²,d_1-d_5).The acute radioreaction and survival rate of the two groups were compared. Results The thirst,swallow pain,hearing loss and skin injury occurrence rate of the observation group were 63.9%,52.8%,38.9% and 50.0%,respectively,and of the control group were 94.4%,69.4%,52.8% and 72.2%,respectively,the difference was statistical significant (χ²=10.189,4.800,4.503,4.800,P<0.05).The mucous injury occurrence rate of the observation group was 75.0%,and of the control group was 86.1%,the difference was not statistical significant (χ²=3.192,P>0.05).Up to January,2016,there was 1case of distant metastasis,no local recurrence and death case in the observation group,there was 1 case of local recurrence,2 cases of distant metastasis and no death case in the control group. Conclusion The intensity modulated radiotherapy can effectively reduce the acute radioreaction in nasopharyngeal cancer patients,improve the clinical effect and the quality of life of patients.