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Efficacy of endoscopy in assessing the local disease response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy
Author(s) -
Ng Joyce T. Y.,
Yu K. S.,
Poon Darren M. C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/ajco.13250
Subject(s) - medicine , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , endoscopy , biopsy , radiation therapy , predictive value , radiology
Aim The optimal local disease assessment after intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of post‐IMRT endoscopies. Methods The medical record of NPC patients with IMRT treatments during 2013 to 2015 was reviewed. Endoscopies and nasopharyngeal biopsies were performed at 6 weeks post‐IMRT. Second biopsies were performed 4 weeks later for patients with abnormal first biopsies. Results of endoscopic assessments were correlated with histology using standard descriptive statistics. Results A total of 262 patients were reviewed. Endoscopy showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 71%, 90%, 41% and 97%, respectively. Disease remission at 6 weeks was observed in 234 patients (89.3%). Sixteen patients (6.1%) had ultimate disease remission (late responders) and 12 (4.6%) had persistent local disease. Conclusion Endoscopy had high specificity and NPV; therefore, invasive biopsy could be exempted in case of normal endoscopy.