Prognostic factors of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

This study included 2761 previously untreated NPC patients who were treated at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1969 to 1983. Factors affecting the prognosis revealed that initial staging played an important role. Younger male NPC patients survived better than the older ones. Female NPC patients were stronger than male NPC patients. A new histopathologic classification of NPC based on the cell type and degree of anaplasia was found to be well correlated to the survival rates. Excisional neck biopsy before definite initial treatment deteriorated the survival of NPC patients. That no excisional neck biopsy should be done unless NPC can be excluded in patients with upper neck nodes is strongly emphasized. Since combined regimens of low-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy improved the results of NPC patients, a further control study using the same protocol is strongly recommended.