How should nasopharyngeal carcinoma be examined?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 22, 2025
00:00
00:00

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common otolaryngological disease and is also considered as one of the common head and neck malignant tumors. For diagnosis, an initial examination that can be conducted is nasopharyngoscopy. Through nasopharyngeal endoscopy, most patients can see changes in the nasopharynx due to new growths, which suggests considering a pathological biopsy test. This helps in obtaining a pathological diagnosis and allows for analysis and typing of the pathology. At the same time, imaging exams are necessary, with nasopharyngeal CT or MRI being commonly used. Additionally, it is recommended to test for the Epstein-Barr virus, as some patients’ condition could be a result of a long-term infection with this virus.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
59sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
1min 2sec home-news-image

What should I do if nasopharyngeal carcinoma causes vomiting?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who exhibit vomiting should first determine the cause of the vomiting. For instance, if vomiting is due to the gastrointestinal reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, medications such as serotonin receptor antagonists, corticosteroids, and NK-1 receptor blockers should be used to alleviate the side effects of the treatment. Additionally, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients might experience projectile vomiting due to brain metastasis, which results in increased intracranial pressure. It is essential first to confirm the presence of brain metastasis through CT and MRI scans of the head. If brain metastasis is confirmed, localized treatment such as radiotherapy should be administered. Medications like mannitol and glycerol fructose should be used concurrently to reduce intracranial pressure and relieve the projectile vomiting. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
52sec home-news-image

How should nasopharyngeal carcinoma be examined?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common otolaryngological disease and is also considered as one of the common head and neck malignant tumors. For diagnosis, an initial examination that can be conducted is nasopharyngoscopy. Through nasopharyngeal endoscopy, most patients can see changes in the nasopharynx due to new growths, which suggests considering a pathological biopsy test. This helps in obtaining a pathological diagnosis and allows for analysis and typing of the pathology. At the same time, imaging exams are necessary, with nasopharyngeal CT or MRI being commonly used. Additionally, it is recommended to test for the Epstein-Barr virus, as some patients’ condition could be a result of a long-term infection with this virus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
52sec home-news-image

Can stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer be cured?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck region. If it is stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma, achieving clinical cure is very difficult; only a small portion of patients have the chance to achieve clinical cure, as stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma is considered advanced. The current common treatments are a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. During the treatment process, regular reviews are necessary to observe the effects of the treatment. Some patients respond well to the treatment, and the tumor can be completely eliminated after treatment; however, for some patients, the treatment can only control the rapid growth of the tumor, not completely eradicate it. Even if the tumor completely subsides, there might still be a chance of local recurrence or distant metastasis after the treatment ends.