A study of the TNM staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)

Two-hundred and six patients with NPC who had nasopharynx examined with computer tomography (CT) prior to their primary radiotherapy were collected to evaluate the staging system for NPC recommended by Changsha Conference in 1979 (79’ system) and that by Fuzhou conference in 1992, (92’ system). The overall 5-year survival rate of this group was 41.3% (85/206). Clinically staged by 92’ system, 206 cases distribute as follow: 2.6% in stage I, 22.7% in stage II, 46.9% in stage III, 24.2% in stage IV and 3.6% in stage IVb, their 5-years survival rate ranges from 80%, 65.9%, 40.7%, 31% to 0%. The authors suggest: 1. primary lesions limited in nasopharygeal cavity be ranked as T1; 2 stage IV be divided into stage IVa (T4 or/and N3 and M0) and IVb (M1, and any T, and N).