Sensorineural hearing loss after treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a longitudinal analysis

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Apr 1;73(5):1335-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.07.034. Epub 2008 Oct 14.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the effects of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy in relation to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) after contemporary treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods and materials: A total of 87 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were treated with RT or chemoradiotherapy using either three-dimensional conformal RT or intensity-modulated RT between 2004 and 2005. Tympanometry and pure-tone audiogram assessments were performed before treatment and then serially at 6-month intervals. The dose-volume data of the cochlea were analyzed. The effects of cisplatin administered in concurrent and nonconcurrent phases was explored.

Results: Of the 170 eligible ears, RT (n = 30) and chemoradiotherapy (n = 140) resulted in 40% (n = 12) and 56.4% (n = 79) persistent SNHL (> or = 15 dB loss), respectively, after a median follow-up of 2 years. SNHL at a high frequency was more frequent statistically in the chemoradiotherapy group than in the RT-alone group (55% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.01), but not at a low frequency (7.9% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.14). Within the chemoradiotherapy group, the mean cochlea dose and concurrent cisplatin dose were important determinants of high-frequency SNHL, with an odds ratio of 1.07/Gy increase (p = 0.01) and an odds ratio of 1.008/mg/m(2) increase (p < 0.01), respectively. Age, gender, and nonconcurrent cisplatin dose were not statistically significant factors. A mean radiation dose to the cochlea of <47 Gy would result in <15% of patients developing severe (> or = 30 dB) high-frequency SNHL.

Conclusion: The results of our study have shown that high-frequency SNHL is significantly related to the mean cochlea dose and the concurrent cisplatin dose. A mean dose constraint of 47 Gy to the cochlea is recommended to minimize SNHL after chemoradiotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects*
  • Cochlea* / drug effects
  • Cochlea* / radiation effects
  • Combined Modality Therapy / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / chemically induced
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Maximum Tolerated Dose
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Radiation Tolerance
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / adverse effects
  • Tumor Burden
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil