Can nasopharyngeal carcinoma be treated?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common clinical disease, especially in the southern regions of China. It primarily affects the nasal area as a malignant tumor. The clinical treatment outcomes for nasopharyngeal carcinoma are relatively good, and it is also referred to as "fortunate cancer," which implies that it has a relatively high cure rate. The main clinical treatment involves radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, often described as the "sandwich" treatment method. Any tumor can be cured if detected early, and the early detection rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is relatively high. Therefore, its cure rate is also relatively high compared to other major organ tumors such as liver and lung cancers, which exhibit relatively lower cure rates and outcomes.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Distinction between Nasopharyngitis and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngitis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma have fundamental differences. Nasopharyngitis is an inflammatory disease, while nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor disease. Clinically, nasopharyngitis mainly presents with increased secretions in the nasopharyngeal area, sometimes with a slight amount of bloody secretions, but this is extremely rare. On the other hand, nasopharyngeal carcinoma primarily shows symptoms such as the proliferation of malignant tumor tissues in the nasopharynx, enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck, headaches, and ear stuffiness. In terms of treatment, nasopharyngitis is primarily treated with medications, such as traditional Chinese medicines, nasal sprays, and nasal corticosteroids; whereas nasopharyngeal carcinoma is primarily treated with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, which is currently the common sandwich therapy. Overall, there are fundamental differences between the two.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma brain metastasis symptoms

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of head and neck malignant tumor. If brain metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma occurs, it may cause related clinical symptoms. Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, decreased vision, and visual field defects. Additionally, some patients may experience fever, but there is significant variability in clinical symptoms among individuals. In such cases, it is necessary to visit departments such as otolaryngology, neurology, and oncology. A head MRI can be conducted to assess the extent of the condition. Generally, options like radiation therapy and chemotherapy are available. With timely treatment, some patients can still achieve a relatively long survival time.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What tests are done for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

The examination items for nasopharyngeal carcinoma are mainly divided into three types. The first type is imaging examinations, the second type is blood tests, and the third type is endoscopic pathological biopsy. Imaging examinations mainly involve CT or MRI of the nasopharynx and the whole body. If necessary, PET-CT may also be considered to clarify the extent of the condition and determine the presence of neck or distant metastases, which is helpful for diagnosis and adjuvant therapy. The second type involves blood tests, mainly including general biochemical blood tests and virus detection, which can assess the basic functional status of the body. The third type is the endoscopic pathological biopsy, which involves performing a pathological biopsy under nasal endoscopy, primarily to confirm the diagnosis and observe the extent of the lesion in the nasopharynx.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is nasopharyngeal carcinoma prone to metastasis?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck area and is prone to metastasis. The most common metastasis site is the cervical lymph nodes. Some patients are diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma only after the discovery of cervical lymph node metastatic cancer. Additionally, some patients may experience intracranial metastasis or bone metastasis. Generally speaking, for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is crucial to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment. After treatment, long-term regular follow-up is necessary to help determine the presence of metastasis. Moreover, if metastasis is confirmed, comprehensive treatment should be combined.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Where is the best place to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma currently mainly considers radiation therapy and chemotherapy, with radiation therapy as the primary treatment. It requires staging and typing based on different ranges of lesions and pathological biopsy types. After determining the stage and type, further radiation and chemotherapy plans can be established. At present, radiation therapy is the most important. Most patients need concurrent chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy and require regular follow-ups. For some patients with cervical lymph node metastasis or recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation therapy, who cannot undergo radiation or chemotherapy again or for whom radiation and chemotherapy have failed, surgery may be considered. However, surgery is generally not the first choice and its effectiveness is not particularly certain.