Does nasopharyngeal carcinoma require surgery?

Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

Updated on September 15, 2024

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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma generally does not consider surgery.

For most patients with nasal cancer, radiotherapy is the first choice, and depending on the different stages, it may be necessary to consider concurrent or adjuvant chemotherapy. The overall treatment plan primarily focuses on curative radiotherapy, and it also requires regular follow-ups to monitor recovery.

If radiotherapy and chemotherapy fail or there is a recurrence, surgery may need to be considered in these cases, but the surgery is relatively difficult, and a detailed analysis of the patient's specific situation is required. Only a very small number of patients would be indicated for surgery.

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Can patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma drink tea?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma can drink tea in their daily lives. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Its early clinical manifestations mainly include nasopharyngeal bleeding, nasal congestion, and poor nasal ventilation as the main symptoms. When these symptoms appear, they should be taken seriously, and timely comprehensive examinations such as electronic nasopharyngoscopy and paranasal sinus CT scans should be conducted. When a nasopharyngeal tumor is detected, a timely pathological biopsy should be undertaken to determine the nature of the patient's condition, aiming for early detection and early treatment. Additionally, enhancing nutrition and strengthening physical exercise can help improve one's resistance and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

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What should be checked first for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma refers to the malignant tumors that occur in the nasopharynx. Clinically, most cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are due to symptoms caused by EB virus infection. Patients may experience dryness, itching, and pain in the nasal cavity, and in the morning, they may also have blood-tinged sputum and purulent secretion symptoms. In severe cases, patients may also experience symptoms such as tinnitus, ear pain, hearing loss, and ear congestion. If these symptoms occur, patients should first undergo a detailed examination with an electronic nasopharyngoscope and a CT scan of the nasopharynx to check for abnormalities. During the examination, the top of the nasopharynx may be found to be perforated, or cauliflower-like neoplasms or ulcers may be seen on the surface of the pharyngeal recesses. At this point, patients will need to undergo a local biopsy. Once confirmed as a malignant tumor, patients will need to undergo relevant radiation therapy and chemotherapy to prolong life.

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Can you smoke with nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma should not smoke, as tobacco is a very certain carcinogenic factor. There is a significant correlation between the high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and long-term smoking. Therefore, if patients do not eliminate carcinogenic factors, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is likely to recur or metastasize after curative surgery or radiotherapy. Additionally, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma need to undergo treatment strategies such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Continuous smoking can affect the effectiveness of these anti-tumor treatments and is detrimental to the patient's recovery. Furthermore, smoking can also lead to other types of malignant tumors. Therefore, it is not advisable for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma to smoke. It is also recommended that patients improve other unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as long-term alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, and the consumption of pickled or fried foods, as these are also causes of high nasopharyngeal carcinoma incidence and should be avoided.

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Characteristics of headaches caused by nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common otorhinolaryngological disease with various clinical symptoms. The more common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, and bloody nasal discharge. Some patients may experience headaches, which could potentially be due to intracranial metastasis of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nerve invasion, causing neuropathic pain. The specific characteristics of the headache mainly manifest as persistent and severe pain. Although pain relief medications can temporarily alleviate the symptoms, the relief usually does not last long. After the effects of the medication wear off, the pain may recur. Moreover, this condition is generally challenging to treat, and treatment outcomes may not be ideal.

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What are the symptoms of late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a common malignancy in otolaryngology, primarily located in the nasopharyngeal area. In advanced stages, nasopharyngeal cancer manifests symptoms in two main aspects. One involves symptoms directly caused by the cancer or its metastasis, typically presenting as increased nasal masses, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, severe headaches, decreased hearing, and bleeding in the nasal area due to tumor cells or tissue eroding the internal carotid artery. Additionally, there is a foul smell from the nasopharyngeal area. The second aspect relates to systemic symptoms due to the growth of nasopharyngeal cancer, leading to poor overall nutritional status and cachexia, characterized by extreme emaciation. There is also the potential for distant metastasis of the tumor cells, presenting symptoms in the corresponding areas.