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Prognostic aspects in the treatment of juvenile nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review

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Abstract

To systematically review and discuss the published data about treatments and outcomes for children and adolescents affected by nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In April 2015, an appropriate string was run on PubMed to retrieve all relevant articles. A cross-check was performed by two of the authors on abstracts and full-text articles found using the selected inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis concerning the rate of reported disease-free survival and overall survival was performed. Fifteen studies were identified comprising a total of 865 subjects affected by nasopharyngeal carcinoma. According to the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging system, the majority of tumors were classified as Stage IV (57.3 %). All included patients underwent radiotherapy, while 687 (79.4 %) received also some regimen of chemotherapy. On the basis of our statistical analysis, the mean (95 % CI) rate of disease-free survival was 66 % (95 % CI 56–76). The mean (95 % CI) rate of the overall survival resulted 68 % (95 % CI 58–78). On the basis of our analysis, it may be affirmed that the prognosis of juvenile nasopharyngeal carcinoma is still unsatisfactory. New reports on homogeneous populations are needed to better define the most influencing prognostic factors and to evaluate the introduction of possible alternative therapeutic protocols.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Umberto I University General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60020, Ancona, Italy

    Federico Maria Gioacchini, Michele Tulli & Massimo Re

  2. Department of Diagnostic Medicine, Clinical and Public Health, University Hospital of Modena, Ancona, Italy

    Shaniko Kaleci

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics “G. Ferreri”, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Magliulo

Authors
  1. Federico Maria Gioacchini
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  2. Michele Tulli
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  3. Shaniko Kaleci
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  4. Giuseppe Magliulo
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  5. Massimo Re
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Correspondence to Federico Maria Gioacchini.

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All the authors have read and approved the manuscript. None have any financial relationships to disclose.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Gioacchini, F.M., Tulli, M., Kaleci, S. et al. Prognostic aspects in the treatment of juvenile nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 274, 1205–1214 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4154-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4154-7

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