Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children: A single institution's experience

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a very rare disease of children. Between 1992 and 2005, 8 male and 2 female patients [ages ranging from 12 to 17 years,] were treated in our institution. The histopathologies were all undifferentiated type (WHO Type III). Of the ten patients, one was T2, five were T3, and four were T4, respectively (TNM system of the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging). Eight patients had node metastases, 6/8 had bilateral and 4/8 had nodes larger than 6 cm. The main symptoms at diagnosis were neck mass followed by nasal, aural symptoms, cranial nerve palsy and headache. Four patients received radiotherapy only, while six patients received cisplatin-based concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The mean irradiation doses to the primary sites were 7200 cGy. Two patients developed early systemic relapse and died one year and 4 months, respectively, after relapse. After a median follow-up of 30 months, the event-free survival and overall survival were 70% and 75%, respectively. Although the sample size was small, it seemed that the patients had a good chance of survival in spite of advanced stage. However, late morbidity was a concern.