nasopharyngeal cancer

nasopharyngeal carcinoma

A rare (in the West) malignancy which is endemic in regions of southern China—where it comprises up to 18% of cancers—as well as in southeast Asia. It is linked to EBV infection, diets high in nitrosamines and inhaled carcinogens. It is more common in males and has a peak incidence of age 40 to 50.
DiffDx
Lymphoma (DLCBL, Hodgkin's), reactive lymphoid proliferation, sarcomas.
Management
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy.
Prognosis
Stage dependant; 5-year survival is 55%.
Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (WHO, 2005)
- Keratinising squamous cell carcinoma
- Non keratinsing carcinoma
• Differentiated
• Undifferentiated
- Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma
- Nasopharyngeal cancer, staging
• Stage I—Lesion confined to nasopharynx.
• Stage II
A) Lesion extends to oropharynx and/or nasal fossa.
B) Lesion extends to nearby lymph nodes or to parapharyngeal region.
• Stage III—Lesion spread to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck or nearby bones or sinuses.
• Stage IV
A) Spread beyond nasopharynx to other areas in head; possible spread to regional lymph nodes.
B) Spread beyond nasopharynx to other areas in head and to lymph nodes above clavicle, or are ≥ 6 cm in greatest dimension.
C) Metastasised.

nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal cancer A rare malignancy, which is endemic to regions of southern China and Southeast Asia; persons with serologic markers for EBV–IgA antibodies against EBV capsid antigen and/or neutralizing antibodies against EBV-specific DNase have a 3-fold cumulative risk of nasopharyngeal cancer if one marker was positive and a 35-fold risk if both markers are positive. See Epstein-Barr virus. Nasopharyngeal cancer Stage I Lesion confined to nasopharynx Stage II A Lesion extends to oropharynx and/or nasal fossa B Lesion extends to nearby lymph nodes or to parapharyngeal region Stage III Lesion spread to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck or to nearby bones or sinuses Stage IV A Spread beyond nasopharynx to other areas in head, and possibly to nearby lymph nodes B Spread beyond nasopharynx to other areas in head and to lymph nodes above clavicle or are ≥ 6 cm C Lesion has metastasized