Risk factors for otitis media and sinusitis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors for otitis media and sinusitis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiothe-rapy. Methods The clinical data from 207 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent radiotherapy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2013 and December 2019 were collected. The clinical characteristics of patients who developed otitis media and sinusitis after radiotherapy were compared with those of patients who did not. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for post-radiotherapy otitis media and sinusitis. Additionally, the correlation between the occurrence of otitis media and sinusitis after radiotherapy was analyzed. Results Comparison of 207 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after radiotherapy showed statistically significant differences in the severity of otitis media and sinusitis (χ2=12.903-31.373,P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that tumor T stage was a risk factor for post-radiotherapy otitis media (P<0.05), and smoking and tumor T stage were risk factors for post-radiotherapy sinusitis (P<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the occurrence of post-radiotherapy otitis media and sinusitis (r=0.22,P<0.05). Conclusion For patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at a high T stage and having a history of smoking, close attention should be paid to the occurrence of post-radiotherapy otitis media and sinusitis. Early intervention is essential to improve patients’ quality of life.

Keywords

• nasopharyngeal carcinoma|radiotherapy, intensity-modulated|otitis media|sinusitis|risk factors