[Effects on vestibular function by irradiation in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate effects on vestibular function by irradiation in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHOD: Twenty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were routinely irradiated with dose of 70 Gy (3 cases > 70 Gy).

RESULT: Nine cases (45%) were abnormal in vestibular function test after radical irradiation in 20 cases (spontaneous nystagmus n = 3; unlateral canal paresis n = 4; bilateral canal paresis n = 2; bilateral vestibular function absent n = 2). The other 11 cases(55%) were normal in vestibular function test.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular function may be damaged after radical irradiation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. During professional identification, this factor must be respected and vestibular function, cochlear function and tubal function must be separately evaluated.