Clinical Description

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the pharynx (throat) behind the nose. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in the United States, but occurs more frequently in Asia and northern Africa. It is unusually common in southern China and in immigrants from that region.

Symptoms of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma may not cause any symptoms in its early stage. You may notice:

A lump in the neck
Nasal congestion
Nosebleeds
Trouble breathing or speaking
Hearing loss
Pain in the ear
Frequent ear infections
Headaches

Risk Factors of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Race: people from Asia or northern Africa
Salt-cured foods
Exposure to Epstein-Barr virus
Smoking cigarettes

How Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma is Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms. An endoscope (a thin tube with a light and a camera) will be used to look inside the nose for abnormalities. Your doctor may take tissue samples (biopsy) to be checked under a microscope for cancer.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor may order imaging tests including computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET), to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer.

Treatment Options for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma at Tufts Medical Center
Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) depends on whether the disease is localized to the nasopharynx (early stage disease) or spread outside the nasopharynx to lymph nodes or sites of metastasis such as bones or lungs (advanced disease)

Radiation therapy: using high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It may be given either inside the body (internal radiation therapy), or outside the body (external radiation therapy), which is more commonly used in nasopharyngeal cancer. This is generally the treatment used for early stage NPC.
Chemotherapy: using one or a combination of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given at the same time as radiation therapy (concomitant chemoradiation), after radiation therapy, or before radiation therapy. This is the usual approach for advanced disease.
Surgery: Surgery may be used to remove cancerous lymph nodes or a tumor

Programs + Services | Doctors + Care Team | Research + Clinical Trials | News

Programs + Services

Head + Neck Cancer Center

Visit the Head and Neck Cancer Center to find out more about treatment for all head and neck cancers, including mouth (oral) and throat cancer.
More information about programs and services

Miriam O'Leary, MD, FACS

Loading ...

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Chair, Department of Otolaryngology, Tufts Medical Center; Otolaryngologist; Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Otolaryngology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-3030
Fax #: 617-636-1479

Head and neck cancer, management of thyroid cancer and hyperparathyroidism, head and neck reconstruction including microvascular techniques, management of radiation-related complications

View Full Profile for Miriam O'Leary, MD, FACS

Richard O. Wein, MD, FACS

Loading ...

Accepting New Patients

Virtual Appointments Available

Title(s): Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgery; Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Department(s): Otolaryngology
Appt. Phone: 617-636-8711
Fax #: 617-636-1479

Head and neck surgical oncology, head and neck reconstruction, management of salivary and thyroid disorders, management of radiation-related complications, maxillofacial trauma, sleep apnea and sleep endoscopy

View Full Profile for Richard O. Wein, MD, FACS