THE PROGNOSTIC IMPORTANCE OF HISTOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION PROPOSED BY HSU IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

In order to investigate the prognostic importance of the histological classification proposed by HSU et al: 107 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated. There were 67 males and 40 females and their age ranged from 10 to 73 years (median: 43). Distribution of histology was as follows: Keratinizing squamous (KS) 10, spindle A (SA) 13, spindle B (SB) 18, mix A (MA) 16, mix M (MB) 21, round A (RA) 8, round B (RB) 21. Majority of patients (62 %) had locoregionally advanced disease (T3-4 and/or N3). The 5-year survival and locoregional control rates were 33.9 % and 50.4 % respectively. The 5-year survival rates for histological subtypes were as fallows: KS 0 % (30 months) SA 29.3 %, SB 40.7 %, MA 52.4 %, MB 39.4 %, RA 12.5 % (47 months), RB 47.1 %. KS and RA sub types had statistically significant worse prognosis (P=0.002 and P=0.01), same rates for A and B sub groups were 35.7 % and 37.6 % respectively (P=0.49). After multivariate analysis clinical stage and complete response to radiotherapy were found to be the independent factors influencig the outcome.