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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What department should I go to for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck area. In terms of treatment, if a patient has been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is recommended to consult an oncology department or a radiation therapy department. This disease requires consideration of a comprehensive treatment plan involving radiotherapy and chemotherapy, typically spanning several months, and regular follow-ups are needed to monitor recovery. If the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed, it is necessary to first consult an otolaryngology (ENT) department. After visiting the ENT department, a nasopharyngoscopy can be performed, followed by a biopsy under the guidance of the nasopharyngoscopy. Only after the pathology from the biopsy can the specific diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma be confirmed, allowing for the clinical pathological staging and typing necessary for subsequent treatment.

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How to check for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the nasal area, clinically mainly squamous cell carcinoma. The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is relatively high in southern regions of our country. Clinically, the primary treatment is radiotherapy. For diagnosis, the first general step involves using an electronic nasopharyngoscope to examine the nasopharyngeal area for suspicious conditions. Further imaging studies can also be conducted, such as CT scans and MRI scans of the nasopharyngeal area. Through these examinations, if a neoplasm in the nasal area is essentially identified and suspected to be nasopharyngeal carcinoma, an endoscopic examination is conducted where forceps are used to clip tissue for a pathological biopsy. The pathological biopsy determines whether it is definitively nasopharyngeal carcinoma and identifies the type of cancer cells, thus guiding clinical treatment.

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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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Does nasopharyngeal carcinoma require surgery?

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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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.