Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: clinical outcomes and patterns of failure

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 May 1;83(1):243-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.05.044. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Abstract

Purpose: To report outcomes in patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for tumors of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity (PNS/NC).

Methods/materials: Between June 2000 and December 2009, 52 patients with tumors of the PNS/NC underwent postoperative or definitive radiation with IMRT. Twenty-eight (54%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Twenty-nine patients (56%) received chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 26.6 months (range, 2.9-118.4) for all patients and 30.9 months for living patients.

Results: Eighteen patients (35%) developed local-regional failure (LRF) at median time of 7.2 months. Thirteen local failures (25%) were observed, 12 in-field and 1 marginal. Six regional failures were observed, two in-field and four out-of-field. No patients treated with elective nodal radiation had nodal regional failure. Two-year local-regional control (LRC), in-field LRC, freedom from distant metastasis (FFDM), and overall survival (OS) were 64%, 74%, 71%, and 66% among all patients, respectively, and 43%, 61%, 61%, and 53% among patients with SCC, respectively. On multivariate analysis, SCC and >1 subsite involved had worse LRC (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.046, respectively) and OS (p = 0.003 and p = 0.046, respectively). Cribriform plate invasion (p = 0.005) and residual disease (p = 0.047) also had worse LRC. Acute toxicities included Grade ≥3 mucositis in 19 patients (37%), and Grade 3 dermatitis in 8 patients (15%). Six patients had Grade ≥3 late toxicity including one optic toxicity.

Conclusions: IMRT for patients with PNS/NC tumors has good outcomes compared with historical series and is well tolerated. Patients with SCC have worse LRC and OS. LRF is the predominant pattern of failure.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Irradiation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Mucosa / radiation effects
  • Nasal Cavity
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Nose Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nose Neoplasms / mortality
  • Nose Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Nose Neoplasms / surgery
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / mortality
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Radiodermatitis / etiology
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / methods*
  • Stomatitis / etiology
  • Treatment Failure
  • Young Adult