Carcinoma of the nasopharynx treated in the RRTI

80 patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx classified according to TNM categories who have been treated in the RRTI between January 1947 and January 1966 are discussed. During 1947-1957 patients were treated by orthovoltage, and after this period by cobalt machine. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 35%. Various factors such as age, sex, sign and symptoms, TNM classification, histology and type of treatment are discussed and related to the incidence of:local recurrence 27% (20/73); regional recurrence 29% (17/58); invasion of the base of the skull 21% (16/78); regional metastases 38% (30/78); distant metastases 49% (38/78), and to 5-year survival 33% (26/80). An overview is given of the present method of treatment in the RRTI based on the data in literature and obtained in this analysis.