Comparison of New AJCC Staging System with Old AJCC Staging System in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Hong, Semie; Wu, Hong Gyun; Park, Charn Il

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to examine the reliability of the new version of the AJCC staging system (1997) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in comparison with the AJCC staging system of 1992.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between 1983 and 1996, 185 patients with histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology Seoul National University Hospital. For these patients, AJCC staging system of 1992 was compared with the 1997 version, by reviewing hospital records, computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
RESULTS
5-year overall survival rates according to the 1992 and 1997 AJCC staging systems were 100%, and 100% at stage I; 100%, and 68.8% at stage II; 61.4%, and 63.8% at stage III; 61.1%, and 63.2% at stage IV. 5-year overall survival rates of each classification showed significant differences between stages ( p=0.0049 for the old version, p=0.01 for the new), but no significant difference was found between the staging systems except at stage II.
CONCLUSION
The new AJCC staging system allows staging as reliably as the 1992 version, but the adequacy of the newly modified staging classification should be confirmed by further clinical examination.