Symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on March 06, 2025
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor that occurs in the nasopharyngeal area. Typically, nasopharyngeal carcinoma often occurs at the top of the nasopharynx and on the lateral walls of the rhinitis. In the early stages, patients may experience nasal congestion, a runny nose, and upon waking, they might have yellow or bloody discharge. In severe cases, the patient may also experience symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness. If a patient exhibits the aforementioned symptoms, they should first visit a hospital for an electronic nasopharyngoscopy. This can reveal the presence of cauliflower-like neoplasms or ulcers in any part of the nasopharynx. If such findings are observed, a local pathology biopsy is needed. If it is confirmed to be a malignant tumor of the nasopharynx, relevant radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments are required. Additionally, the patient should also undergo regular systemic examinations to check for distant metastases.

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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.

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Do people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma lose weight?

Some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may experience weight loss, but individual differences exist. This is somewhat related to the condition itself as well as to the individual's resistance and their baseline physical fitness. If the condition is detected early and the clinical symptoms are not particularly obvious, most patients will not show significant weight loss, and many people may not have noticeable symptoms. If the condition is severe, and diet and nutrition are not properly managed in a timely manner, patients may experience weight loss, especially in advanced stages of the illness. This can result in a cachectic-like state, which poses greater challenges for treatment. It is necessary to seek medical attention promptly, assess the physical condition, and consider the need for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

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What causes nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

The specific cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a type of malignant tumor, is currently unclear, but it is considered to be related to some high-risk factors that may lead to the occurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer. Firstly, there are cases of EB virus infections in the nasopharyngeal area. The long-term stimulation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa by this virus leads to hyperplasia of the mucosa, which can become malignant and eventually form nasopharyngeal cancer. Additionally, some clinical studies suggest that the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is related to genetic factors, indicating a genetic predisposition to nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which leads to its development. Furthermore, some considerations involve external carcinogenic factors affecting the nasopharyngeal area, such as long-term smoking or environmental air pollution, which can also lead to a high incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer.

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What is nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common malignant tumor in the nasopharyngeal area, and the main pathological type is predominantly squamous carcinoma, most of which are poorly differentiated squamous carcinomas, constituting the most common malignant tumor in the nasopharyngeal area. Currently, the primary treatment option is radiotherapy, which is the most important; some patients may need to consider concurrent or adjuvant chemotherapy. If drug and radiotherapy treatments are ineffective, or if there is cervical lymph node metastasis, and for some patients where chemoradiotherapy fails with residual lesions, surgery may be considered. However, currently, the surgical treatment approach is generally not very mature and is somewhat controversial, thus it requires treatment at major hospitals.

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Is a fever in nasopharyngeal carcinoma a sign of deterioration?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may exhibit fever in a clinical setting. This fever can partially be due to the worsening of the carcinoma itself. However, not all cases are due to progression of the disease; some are caused by infections and other factors. For example, after receiving anti-tumor treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may experience a decrease in white blood cells, making them highly susceptible to infections, which can then manifest as fever. Additionally, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may have weakened immune systems, making them prone to infections and fevers. As the nasopharyngeal carcinoma progresses, it can release abnormal hormones, forming endogenous fever-inducing agents, leading to clinical manifestations of fever. Generally, this type of fever is referred to as tumor fever, which is often related to the progression of the disease. Tumor fever typically requires anti-tumor treatment for effective relief.