Long-Term Hearing Results and Otological Complications of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: Comparison between Treatment with Conventional Two-Dimensional Radiotherapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

Objective: To assess the long-term audiological outcome and otological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who have received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy (2 DRT). Study Design: Prospective study on the audiological outcome and otological complications 5-9 years after radiotherapy. Methodology: Patients had pure-tone audiogram before radiotherapy and 5 years after radiotherapy. Otological examination was performed 5-9 years after radiotherapy by an otolaryngologist. Results: There is a significant deterioration of the hearing threshold 5 years after radiotherapy but there is no statistically significant difference in the deterioration of hearing between IMRT and 2 DRT. Six patients in the 2 DRT group and 1 patient in the IMRT group had osteoradionecrosis of the external auditory canal (p = 0.042). Conclusion:There are fewer incidences of osteoradionecrosis of the external auditory canal in patients treated with IMRT. There is no difference in bone conduction threshold in patients treated with IMRT or 2 DRT. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel