Objective To explore the clinical effect of chemotherapy combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy（IMRT）in the treatment of elderly（≥65 years old）locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma．Methods The study was carried out from January 2018 to January 2019．During this period,90 elderly patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital were selected as the research objects．The random number table method was used to divide the 90 patients into observation groups,and the control group,each with 45 cases．The observation group was treated with IMRT,and the control group was treated with chemotherapy combined with IMRT．The effects of the two groups were compared．Results The total effective rate of the two groups was 100%,and there was no significant difference between the two groups（P<0.05）．The improvement rate of quality of life in the observation group（93.33%）was higher than that in the control group（77.78%,P<0.05）．The number of grade 3-4 leukopenia,vomiting and mucositis in the control group was significantly higher than that in the observation group（P<0.05）,and there was no significant difference in other side effects between the two groups（P>0.05）．The 1-year overall survival rate（91.11%）and 3-year overall survival rate（75.56%）of the observation group were higher than those of the control group（86.67%,68.89%,P<0.05）．Conclusions For locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the elderly,chemotherapy combined with IMRT reduces the long-term survival rate,increases the toxic and side effects and affects the improvement of the quality of life after treatment．It is not suitable for routine application,and IMRT alone may be a more appropriate treatment choice.