ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma · Side effects & recovery

What side effects should I expect during IMRT for nasopharyngeal cancer?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

Common acute effects are skin redness and peeling on the neck, dry mouth and thickened saliva, taste loss, mouth sores, fatigue, nasal congestion and temporary hearing changes from middle-ear fluid. Most improve over weeks to months; dry mouth and reduced taste can persist six to twelve months or longer.

In detail

Long-term considerations include xerostomia, dental caries risk, trismus (reduced mouth opening), neck fibrosis, hypothyroidism and, rarely, temporal lobe injury or skull-base osteoradionecrosis. Daily mouth-opening and neck exercises, nasal saline irrigation, meticulous dental care with fluoride, and early swallowing therapy materially reduce long-term problems.

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Side effects & recovery” section of the Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about nasopharyngeal carcinoma

See all 15 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Head and Neck Cancers National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2025
  2. Head and Neck Cancers (patient information) US National Cancer Institute · 2025

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.