Correlation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy at a specific radiation dose with the prognosis of nasal mucous damage after radiotherapy.
Objective of the present study was to investigate the tolerant radiation dose of nasal mucosa by observing and analyzing patients who received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (N = 66) were selected for this study. The modified saccharin assay, endoscopy test, magnetic resonance imaging, and sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) survey were performed for the patients before and at 0 (T0), 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months after radiotherapy. The threshold doses of IMRT before radiotherapy and at T0, T1, T2, and T3 were determined as, respectively, 37 Gy, 37 Gy, 39 Gy, and 37 Gy for the saccharin test; 38 Gy, 37 Gy, 40 Gy, and 38 Gy for the endoscopy test; and 39 Gy, 37 Gy, 39 Gy, and 39 Gy for the nasal-related symptom scoring test. The modified saccharin assay, endoscopy test, and SNOT-20 survey revealed that a low dose (< threshold dose) of IMRT was associated with higher mucocilia transport rate (MRT), better endoscopy test score, and improved SNOT-20 score. The patients who received IMRT at a dose less than the threshold had the least damaged nasal mucosa morphology, and functional impairment scores were highest at T1 of IMRT. We conclude that nasal mucosa showed the most serious damage within 3 months after IMRT. If the radiation dose can be controlled within the threshold, the nasal mucosa can recover in the following few months, but recovery will be difficult otherwise.
['Yin|Gendi|G|', 'Tu|Bo|B|', 'Ye|Ling|L|']
D000328:Adult D004724:Endoscopy D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009297:Nasal Mucosa D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms D011379:Prognosis D011832:Radiation Injuries D011836:Radiation Tolerance D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated D012439:Saccharin D000079602:Sino-Nasal Outcome Test
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy Radiation therapy Radiation dose Nasal mucosa