What is nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 25, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with liver metastasis

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who experience liver metastasis present with multiple symptoms, the more common ones being abdominal pain and possible facial jaundice. Some patients may also experience poor appetite and weight loss. The specific symptoms vary from individual to individual. When such conditions occur, it is important to seek medical attention at an oncology department promptly and undergo a comprehensive body examination to determine the extent of the condition, which will facilitate targeted treatment. Current common treatment methods include interventional therapies and chemotherapy. However, overall, the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with liver metastasis is very challenging, and the treatment outcomes are generally not very favorable.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
51sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
50sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
54sec home-news-image

Can nasopharyngeal cancer be cured?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of head and neck malignant tumor. Currently, radiation therapy is commonly used for treatment. Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, some patients may also need to combine chemotherapy. The specific treatment effectiveness varies from individual to individual, and some patients can achieve clinical cure. For early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the treatment effectiveness is relatively good, and the clinical cure rate is comparatively high. For mid to late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the treatment becomes more challenging, and the treatment effectiveness is relatively poorer. After treatment, regular check-ups are required to monitor the recovery of the condition. If no recurrence or distant metastasis is found five years after treatment, the patient is considered clinically cured.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
56sec home-news-image

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.