OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of salvage surgery for patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at the primary site after radiotherapy.

DESIGN:

Retrospective analysis of 24 patients treated by transpalatal, transmaxillary, or transmandibular approach to resect the recurrent tumor, with maximum follow-up of 50 months.

SETTING:

Academic tertiary referral center.

RESULTS:

Radiotherapy before salvage surgery included 1 to 3 courses of radiation to the nasopharynx, with doses ranging from 60 to 190 Gy. Eighteen (75%) of the patients relapsed within 2 years, and 6 (25%) relapsed more than 6 years after the last irradiation. In 4 of 6 late-relapsing cases, the histopathological type changed to keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, which is rare in cases of NPC in Taiwan. Fourteen patients (58%) survived for 8 to 50 months after surgery (median, 18 months). The surgical complications were tolerable.

CONCLUSIONS:

Salvage surgery is feasible in selected patients with recurrent disease at the primary site. Thus, we can offer alternative retreatment in addition to external irradiation for patients with recurrent NPC.