Case Report
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 16, 2014; 2(7): 297-300
Published online Jul 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.297
Optimal management of a patient with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Francesco Perri, Italo Dell’Oca, Paolo Muto, Concetta Schiavone, Corrado Aversa, Franco Fulciniti, Raffaele Solla, Giuseppina Della Vittoria Scarpati, Carlo Buonerba, Giuseppe Di Lorenzo, Francesco Caponigro
Francesco Perri, Francesco Caponigro, Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, National Tumor Institute of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Italo Dell’Oca, Radiotherapy Unit, S. Raffaele Hospital of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy
Paolo Muto, Concetta Schiavone, Radiotherapy Unit, National tumor Institute of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Corrado Aversa, Otolaryngology Unit, National Tumor Institute of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Franco Fulciniti, Pathology Unit, National Tumor Institute of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Raffaele Solla, Institute of Biostructures and Bioimage, National Council of Research (CNR) of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giuseppina Della Vittoria Scarpati, Oncology and Molecular Biology Research Unit, University of Salerno, 84090 Salerno, Italy
Carlo Buonerba, Giuseppe Di Lorenzo, Medical Oncology, University Federico II of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Francesco Perri, MD, Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, National Tumor Institute of Naples, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy. francesco.perri80@alice.it
Telephone: +39-815-903362 Fax: +39-815-903822
Received: January 15, 2014
Revised: April 24, 2014
Accepted: May 16, 2014
Published online: July 16, 2014
Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in western countries, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies. Despite prognosis is satisfactory for newly diagnosed, non-metastatic disease, management of recurrent disease is challenging, with a survival expectancy of approximately 6 mo with the use of chemotherapy as the sole salvage treatment. We report a case of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery in the context of a multidisciplinary approach. A durable complete response was achieved.

Keywords: Cetuximab, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Re-irradiation, Surgery of metastases, Undifferentiated

Core tip: Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma requires multi-modality therapy based on radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy, with a careful evaluation of expected toxicity and patient's quality of life.