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Early changes of auditory brain stem evoked response after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma—A prospective study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

S. K. Lau ,
W. I. Wei ,
J. S. T. Sham ,
D. T. K. Choy  and
Y. Hui
S. K. Lau*
Affiliation:
the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong and the Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology
W. I. Wei
Affiliation:
the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong and the Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology
J. S. T. Sham
Affiliation:
the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
D. T. K. Choy
Affiliation:
the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
Y. Hui
Affiliation:
the Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong and the Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology
*
Dr Sai-kit, Lau, F.R.C.S., Lecturer, Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Fax: (852) 855 1897
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Abstract

A prospective study of the effect of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma on hearing was carried out on 49 patients who had pure tone, impedance audiometry and auditory brain stem evoked response (ABR) recordings before, immediately, three, six and 12 months after radiotherapy. Fourteen patients complained of intermittent tinnitus after radiotherapy. We found that 11 initially normal ears of nine patients developed a middle ear effusion, three to six months after radiotherapy. There was mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing impairment after radiotherapy. Persistent impairment of ABR was detected immediately after completion of radiotherapy. The waves I–III and I–V interpeak latency intervals were significantly prolonged one year after radiotherapy. The study shows that radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma impairs hearing by acting on the middle ear, the cochlea and the brain stem auditory pathway.

Keywords

Audiometryevoked responseNasopharyngeal neoplasmsRadiotherapy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 10 , October 1992 , pp. 887 - 892
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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