Post Radiation Middle Ear Effusion in NPC Patients - Analysis of
Patient, Tumor and Radiation Factors
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether
patient, tumor and radiation therapy factors are associated with
development of middle ear effusion (MEE) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
(NPC) patients. Methods: A retrospective review of NPC patients treated
between January 2000 and June 2018 at Rabin Medical Center. Patient
factors, tumor factors, radiation doses and radiation fields were
collected and outlined if needed (middle ear, eustachian tube (ET),
tensor veli palatini (TVP) and levator palatini (LVP) muscles), then
analyzed and compared between patients with MEE and those without and
between sides in patients with unilateral MEE. Results: 73 patients were
enrolled. Most were males (71.2%) with advanced stage diseases (78%).
At the time of diagnosis 14 patients (19.2%) presented with MEE and in
18 (24.6%) patients post radiation MEE was observed (15 ipsilateral to
the tumor and 3 bilateral). Tumor stage, histology and laterality were
not associated with development of MEE. Comparison of mean radiation
field dosages including - gross target volume (GTV), clinical target
volume (CTV) and patient target volume (PTV) showed no association with
post radiation MEE. In addition, no difference was found in the
radiation doses to the middle ear, ET or the LVP nor the TVP between
ears with and without MEE. Conclusions: Postirradiation MEE remains a
common adverse effect in NPC patients. Surprisingly, tumor stage, tumor
laterality and histology were not associated with MEE. Similar findings
were observed for total radiation doses and specific doses to the middle
ear, ET and ET muscles.