Neoplasms are the abnormal growth which can either be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The nasopharynx is the upper section of the throat (pharynx) behind the nose where the food and air passes through on the way either to the esophagus or trachea. The nasopharyngeal cancer commonly develops in the squamous cells that line the nasopharynx. The malignant tumors can potentially spread into the surrounding tissue and affect other parts of the body.
Benign nasopharyngeal tumors
The non-cancerous nasopharyngeal tumors are considered to be rare which are often detected in children and young adults. There are various types of non-cancerous tumors which can include abnormal growth of small blood vessels called angiofibromas and haemangiomas. The benign tumors generally do not spread and invade other parts of the body and hence are not considered to be life-threatening. The treatment options for these tumors are usually different from the cancerous nasopharyngeal tumors.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
This is the cancer that develops in the nasopharynx which in its initial stage can be difficult to identify as it presents symptoms similar to other common forms of diseases. There are three types of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; keratinizing squamous cells carcinoma, non-keratinizing differentiated carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. Although all these three different types appear to be different when examined under the microscope, they often start from the same cell and hence the treatment for them is the same.
Other forms of nasopharyngeal cancer
The rare forms of nasopharyngeal cancer include adenocarcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas which develop in the minor salivary glands present within the nasopharynx. The other form of cancers that arises in the nasopharynx includes lymphomas which can sometimes start in the nasopharynx.
Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer
The common symptom is the presence of a lump in the neck during examination which can be detected on both the sides of the neck. These lumps usually are not painful and develop because of cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. Additional symptoms can include frequent ear infections, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, nasal blockage, nosebleeds, headache, blurred or double vision and a difficulty opening the mouth. The ear infections appear to be more prevalent among the children than the adults.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on the symptoms evident, assessing the individual’s history, a physical examination and various specialized tests. The nasopharynx can be examined to determine the presence of abnormal growths, bleedings and other signs. A nasopharyngoscope involves a procedure where a small tube is inserted through the nose to carefully examine the nasopharynx. In order to confirm the diagnosis, a sample of the affected tissue may be removed to be examined under the microscope to identify the characteristic changes. Various imaging tests such as chest x-ray, CT, MRI and PET scan may also be necessary to identify the abnormal areas and to understand how far cancer has spread.
Treatment
The treatment is based on the type of nasopharyngeal cancer, the stage of the disease and the overall health of the affected individual. The treatment options can include a surgery which is usually uncommon, radiotherapy that can usually cure early stage of the disease and chemotherapy when cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
References
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/nasopharyngeal-cancer/treatment/decisions
https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/nasopharyngeal-treatment-pdq
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/nasopharyngeal-cancer/treating.html
