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Prospective study of sensorineural hearing loss following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2009

J-J Li ,
Y-K Guo ,
Q-L Tang ,
S-S Li ,
X-L Zhang ,
P-A Wu  and
X-M Yang
J-J Li
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
Y-K Guo
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
Q-L Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
S-S Li
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
X-L Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
P-A Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
X-M Yang*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and theInstitute of Otology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Xin-Ming Yang, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, PR China. Fax: +86 731 5533525 E-mail: x16y2003@yahoo.com.cn
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Abstract

Objectives:

To investigate the severity and incidence of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy.

Methods:

Forty-two patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with conventional radiotherapy. Audiological testing was performed to compare patients' hearing before and at varying stages after radiotherapy.

Results:

At one month post-radiation, a significant hearing threshold increase was seen only for high frequencies. At 12, 24 and 60 months post-radiation, significant threshold increases were observed at speech frequencies (4.0 and 8.0 kHz), compared with pre-radiation data. The mean values of wave I, III and V latencies and of the I–V interpeak latency intervals were not significantly altered at one month post-radiation, but were significantly prolonged at 12, 24 and 60 months post-radiation, compared with pre-radiation data.

Conclusion:

In patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy, the severity and incidence of radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss increased with time, especially at high frequencies. This hearing impairment may be due to changes in the cochlea and/or the retrocochlear auditory pathway.

Keywords

NasopharynxCarcinomaRadiation TherapyHearing Loss
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 32 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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