Abstract 5056
Background
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children is frequent in Mediterranean area. We aimed to report our experience in the treatment of this entity.
Methods
We retrospectively review the records of 76 young patients (
Results
Mean age was 16 years (9 – 20). Sex-ratio was 1,1. Seventy two percent of patients (n = 55) had locally advanced tumor (T3 or T4). Cervical nodal involvement was seen in 95% of cases (n = 71). There were 52 cases (68%) of N2 or N3. Sixty-six patients had neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 10 had concomitant and 5 had both. Five patients had exclusive irradiation. Radiotherapy was monofractionated in 45 cases and bifractionated in the remaining cases. Acute toxicities were tolerable. Mean follow-up was 198 months (28- 289). One patient experienced a local failure. Twenty-six presented metastatic failures. Overall survival rate at 10 years is 67,4%. Disease free survival rate at 10 years is 66,7%. Xerostomia was the most frequent late toxicity (97%). Patients experienced endocrine troubles (hypothyroidism in 19%, amenorrhea in 13%), cerebral necrosis (5cases), osteoradionecrosis (10 cases) and secondary cancer (3 cases).
Conclusions
Pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma has good prognosis despite frequent locally advanced disease at presentation. Combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the standard of care. Late toxicities are often severe and affect the quality of life.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
University Hospital of Sfax - Tunisia
Funding
None
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.