Long-term hearing results and otological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: comparison between treatment with conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the long-term audiological outcome and otological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who have received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy (2 DRT). STUDY DESIGN Prospective study on the audiological outcome and otological complications 5-9 years after radiotherapy. METHODOLOGY Patients had pure-tone audiogram before radiotherapy and 5 years after radiotherapy. Otological examination was performed 5-9 years after radiotherapy by an otolaryngologist. RESULTS There is a significant deterioration of the hearing threshold 5 years after radiotherapy but there is no statistically significant difference in the deterioration of hearing between IMRT and 2 DRT. Six patients in the 2 DRT group and 1 patient in the IMRT group had osteoradionecrosis of the external auditory canal (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION There are fewer incidences of osteoradionecrosis of the external auditory canal in patients treated with IMRT. There is no difference in bone conduction threshold in patients treated with IMRT or 2 DRT.