Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics and measurements of radiation-induced cervical cord injury (RICCI) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy,and explore its risk factors.Methods A retrospective study was performed on the clinical data of 30 RICCI patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy and 31 patients without RICCI (control group),admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to October 2013.Clinical symptoms and signs,imaging data of RICCI patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy were analyzed,and univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors of RICCI in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.The effect of new type neuropathic pain inhibitor pregabalin on Lhermitte's sign (LS) was observed.Results LS was a common manifestation of RICCI; LS occurred after the initial radiotherapy in 19 patients,and 4 developed after re-irradiation for recurrences.Radiological imaging showed cervical spinal cord atrophy in 4 patients and enlargement in 17.The incidence of MRI checked exception was higher when irradiation dose of cervical node was over 64 Gy (P＜0.05).Significant differences of irradiation doses of cervical lymph node,methods of radiotherapy and re-irradiation were noted between the RICCI group and non-RICCI group (P＜0.05); further Logistic regression demonstrated that irradiation dose of cervical lymph node was an independent risk factor for RICCI (OR=1.877,95％CI:1.282-2.748,P=0.001).Remission rate of LS in patients accepted pregabalin (73.3％) was significantly higher than those without pregabalin (25.0％,P=0.039).Conclusions RICCI may occur in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients following radiotherapy; irradiation dose of cervical lymph node is an independent risk factor for RICCI.LS is a common manifestation of RICCI,and pregabalin could effectively relief LS. Key words: Radition-indued cervical cord injury; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Radiotherapy

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