Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
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| Nasopharyngeal carcinoma | |
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| Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a lymph node | |
| ICD-10 | C11 |
| ICD-9 | 147 |
| OMIM | 161550 |
| DiseasesDB | 8814 |
| eMedicine | ped/1553 |
| MeSH | D009303 |
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Microchapters |
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Differentiating Nasopharyngeal carcinoma from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Nasopharyngeal carcinoma |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Epidemiology & Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Causes
Differentiating Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Complications & Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Staging | Laboratory tests | Electrocardiogram | X Rays | CT | MRI Echocardiography or Ultrasound | Other images | Alternative diagnostics
Treatment
Medical therapy | Surgical options | Primary prevention | Secondary prevention | Financial costs | Future therapies
Causes
Numerous studies have linked common subtypes of NPC to infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has also been implicated in the development of other cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, Burkitt's lymphoma, and HIV-associated lymphomas. There is some evidence that genetic factors, such as HLA type may play a role in the susceptibility of certain ethnic groups to NPC. Finally, dietary risk factors, such as the consumption of salt-cured fish high in nitrosamines, may play a role in the Asian endemic regions. Well-differentiated NPC, with a microscopic appearance most similar to other squamous cell cancers of the head and neck may be more closely associated with the standard risk factors for that disease, such as cigarette smoking.[1][2]
Treatment
Because NPC occurs in an anatomical site which is poorly accessible to surgeons, and is often advanced at presentation, the most effective means of treatment is generally radiation therapy, either with or without concurrent chemotherapy. While the undifferentiated subtype of NPC is highly radiosensitive, this is less true of the more differentiated subtypes.[1]
Prognosis
The five-year survival rate of nonkeratinizing and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas, with appropriate treatment, is about 65% overall. Cure is highly possible, even when disease has spread to the regional lymph nodes. The prognosis of keratinizing NPC is significantly worse, due to its greater resistance to radiation.[1]
Epidemiology
NPC is uncommon in the United States and most other nations, but is extremely common in Taiwan and certain regions of China, accounting for 18% of all cancers in the latter nation. While NPC is seen primarily in middle-aged persons in Asia, a high proportion of African cases appear in children. The cause of increased risk for NPC in these endemic regions is not entirely clear.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Richard Cote, Saul Suster, Lawrence Weiss, Noel Weidner (Editor). Modern Surgical Pathology (2 Volume Set). London: W B Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-7253-1.
- ↑ Ian F Tannock, Richard P. Hill, Robert G. Bristow, Lea Harrington (Editor) (2005). The Basic Science of Oncology (Fourth Edition). U.S.A: McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-07-138774-9.
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.