The otologic complications of the radiotherapy treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a highly radiosensitive and curable tumor. Radiotherapy is the first option in the treatment. High radiotherapy doses, wide irradiated areas, the presence of ototoxic chemotherapy drugs in the treatment protocols, young patient age and good prognosis frequently lead to ear complications, secondary to the treatment in nasopharyngeal cancer cases. In this chapter, the otologic complications secondary to the treatment and the predicted solution or treatment methods of the otologic complications in nasopharyngeal cancer cases have been reviewed to provide a clinical perspective on this issue. In patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, otologic complications secondary to radiotherapy can affect all levels of the auditory pathway from the external ear to the central auditory pathway and cause all types of hearing loss. Early ear pathologies are more common in nasopharyngeal cancer. We anticipate that early measures and conservative treatment approaches will prevent advanced ear pathologies in this population. The prevention and solution of the middle ear problems must be the goal of the strategies for complication treatment.