Clinical Study of Early-Nasal Intervention Among Individuals With Nasopharyngeal Cancer to Prevent Radiation-Induced Sinusitis.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of early-nasal intervention on sinusitis caused by radiation therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), in order to prevent and reduce the occurrence of radiation-induced sinusitis.

Methods: Patients with NPC who were scheduled for intensity-modulated radiation therapy were randomized into an experimental group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40) with concealed allocation. While the control group received only compound menthol drops, the experimental group received nasal treatments (nasal saline irrigation, corticosteroid nasal spray, and compound menthol drops) during radiation therapy and for 6 months after therapy. Sinusitis-related scores (symptoms scores, nasal endoscopy scores, and MRI findings) and mucociliary transport rate (MTR, mm/min) were collected at different time points of radiation therapy.

Results: Before radiation therapy, there were no statistically-significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of sinusitis-related scores, MTR and general conditions (P > .05). Both experimental and control groups showed statistically-significant differences in sinusitis-related scores between time points after radiation therapy (P < .01), sinusitis-related scores peaked at 6 months after radiation therapy, and there were also significant differences in the MTR between time points during radiation therapy (P < .01). Sinusitis-related scores differed significantly between the 2 groups after the completion of radiation therapy and at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after radiation therapy (P < .05). At the 3rd and 6th month after radiation therapy, there was a statistically-significant difference in the nasal MTR between the 2 groups (P < .05).

Conclusions: The experimental group and the control group showed statistically-significant changes in sinusitis symptoms scores, endoscopic findings, and MRI findings at multiple important time points after radiation therapy. This type of intervention demonstrates significant clinical value and safety.