Efficacy evaluation of different measurement methods for target lesions after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical radiotherapy in locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract

To assessthediagnostic efficacyin response evaluation of hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) using different CT measurement methods. One hundred and three patients with locally advanced HPC receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) andradical radiotherapy (RT) were retrospectively enrolled. The long diameter, short diameter and largest axial area of the tumors and the largest metastatic cervicallymph node (LN) were measured before and after NACT, at the end of RT and 1 month after RT. Tumor regression ratios of the sum of the tumor's long diameter and LN'sshort diameter (LDTSDL), the sum of tumorand LN's short diameter (TTSDL), the sum of tumorand LN's largest axial area (AATML) were calculated. Analysis was conducted for overall survival (OS), metastasis-free survival, regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Note that 35, 28, 23, and 16 patients suffered death, localrecurrence, regional recurrence and distant metastasis, respectively. TTSDL-defined effective group demonstrated better LRFS (p=.039) and RRFS (p=.047) after NACT and better OS since the end of RT (p=.037); AATML-defined effective groups demonstrated better OS, LRFS, and RRFS since the end of RT (p=.015, .008, and .005). While LDTSDL-defined groups showed differences in OS and LRFS until 1 month after RT (p=.013 and .014). The regression rate of TTSDL and AATML can distinguish prognosis at an earlier time and demonstrated better reliability compared with LDTSDL. They were recommended for response evaluation in HPC.