Use of transoral nasopharyngeal brush biopsy for Epstein-Barr virus DNA detection of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of transoral nasopharyngeal brush biopsies and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA detection system in surveillance of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed to compare the nasopharyngeal epithelial EBV DNA levels of patients with recurrent NPC and the control group of postirradiated patients with NPC disease in remission.

Results: Fourteen patients with recurrent NPC and 15 postirradiated patients in disease remission were recruited for transoral brush biopsies.

Management of pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery in postirradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: Massive epistaxis due to ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an often fatal complication of radiation treatment for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We review the clinical characteristics and predictors of survival in patients suffering from this serious complication after radiotherapy.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.