Advanced carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Treatment results

From 1947 through 1977, 93 patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx were treated. Most (83%) of the patients, had stage IV disease including 9 per cent who had a systemic tumor dissemination. Cervical lymph node metastases were present in 73 (78%) patients. The 5-year actuarial survival for all 93 patients was 13 per cent, 40 for stage II, 18 for stage III and 10 for stage IV patients. The factors with significant influence on survival were Initial Performance Status and T4 disease. The presence of N3 disease was a good indicator of a subsequent systemic tumor spread.