Clinical treatment considerations in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy era for patients with N0-category nasopharyngeal carcinoma and enlarged neck lymph nodes

Table 2 Failure patterns in the small and large ENLN groups of NPC patients

Failure pattern	Small ENLN group [cases (%)]	Large ENLN group [cases (%)]	P value^a
Local recurrence	0 (0)	10 (6.0)	0.049
Regional recurrence	2 (2.3)	0 (0)	0.217
Total locoregional failure	2 (2.3)	10 (6.0)	0.328
Distant metastasis	2 (2.3)	10 (6.0)	0.328
Total death	3 (3.5)	9 (5.4)	0.725
Total failure	5 (5.9)^b	17 (10.2)^c	0.248

^a P values were calculated using Chi square test or Fisher exact test if indicated
^bOne patient died without disease recurrence and distant metastasis
^cThree patients experienced both local and distant failure