RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESS AFTER RADIATION-THERAPY AND CISPLATINUM, 5-FLUOROURACIL TREATMENT FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA WITH COLLAGEN DISEASE - REPORT OF 2 PATIENTS AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Collagen disease are frequently associated with malignant tumors. Rece ntly, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy has been recommended for improving the efficacy of treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Two patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma complicated by collagen diseas es (dermatomyositis in one, and Sjogren's syndrome with mixed connecti ve tissue disease in the other) were given radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy consisting of cis-platinum and 5-fluorouracil. Following this combination therapy, both patients developed retropharyngeal absc ess and ulceration of the mucosal membrane on the posterior wall of th e oropharynx; there was no tumor cell involvement. Because these injur ies were more severe than would have been expected from radiotherapy a lone, it is recommended that special attention be paid to combination therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma complicated by colla gen disease.