Long-term survival following two recurrences and re-irradiation courses for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report

Local recurrence in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) presents is a major challenge. Patients experience substantial morbidity as well as poor survival if no further treatment is offered. Residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is usually managed by chemotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), interstitial, and intracavitary brachytherapy or salvage surgery. This case presents the treatment of two consecutive localized recurrences of NPC. The patient was a 59-year-old man who underwent a course of radical external-beam radiotherapy for a primary NPC in 1999, then another course of external radiation in 2004 for his first recurrence, and finally a course of brachytherapy for the second recurrence in 2005. The patient is well now in 2010, with no signs of disease five years after the third radiotherapy. Our experience of re-irradiation for this twice recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma has been promising with encouraging tumor control and acceptable treatment-related toxicity profile. This case indicates the efficacy of definitive re-irradiation for regional recurrence and the necessity for long-term observation for the salvageable early-stage local failure.