Analysis of the risk factors of the radiation-induced encephalopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study.

To analyze the related factors of radiation-induced encephalopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to identify the risk factors and their clinical significance. This retrospective cohort study included 707 NPC patients. They had undergone conventional and enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans. They were divided into the radiation-induced encephalopathy group and the no encephalopathy group according to the imaging examination. Detailed clinical information was collected. The incidence of radiation-induced encephalopathy in NPC was 22.2%, in which 124 were radiation-induced encephalopathy and 33 were reirradiation patients. We found that age, pathological type, radiation method, hypertension, radiation course, relapse, carotid/cerebral arteriosclerosis, clinical stage, and radiotherapy dose were statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed that clinical stage, age, radiotherapy method, hypertension, carotid/cerebral arteriosclerosis, and radiation courses after a reoccurrence of NPC were risk factors for radiation-induced encephalopathy. The more advanced the clinical stage was and the older the patient, the greater the risk. Radiotherapy method, radiation course, hypertension, carotid/cerebral arteriosclerosis, age, and clinical stage were the risk factors associated with radiation-induced encephalopathy in NPC.