Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Tumor

About the disease

Nasopharyngeal tumor is the tumor of the head and neck. According to WebMD, this tumor is considered to be rare. It usually starts in the upper part of the throat right behind the nose. This area is also known as nasopharynx, ergo the name of the tumor. The tumor can be either benign or cancerous, depending on the nature of cells where it originated. In cancerous case of nasopharyngeal tumor, the cancer can spread to other organs. Cancerous nasopharyngeal tumor needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible to prevent it from metastasizing and also ensure recovery of the patient. Benign nasopharyngeal tumor usually manifests as a mass and it can usually be removed with complete recovery of the patient.

Nasopharynx is part of the pulmonary pathway as when the air flows in the nose, it goes through the throat and nasopharynx. The exact cause of nasopharyngeal tumor has not been identified yet. According to WebMD, however, many cases of nasopharyngeal tumor had been associated with the Epstein-Barr virus, although the link between these two conditions has not been determined yet. In most cases, people who had Epstein-Barr do not develop nasopharyngeal tumor because their immune system fought the virus completely and eliminated it from the body. Nonetheless, in rare cases DNA of the virus can mix with the DNA of the nasopharynx causing the tumor to appear. Consuming tobacco and alcohol increases the risk of developing nasopharyngeal tumor. It is also important to restrict consumption of food rich in salt. 

Symptoms

• Pain in the throat
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Blurry vision
• Pain in the face
• Headache
• Lump in the throat
• Nosebleeding in some cases

Diagnosis

During a general examination the doctor will examine the nose, ear and throat to rule out other causes of similar symptoms. The doctor will ask if the patient had any infections lately. The doctor will ask if the patient had ever had Epstein Barr virus.

The endoscopy of the nasopharynx can be used to examine it more closely and determine if there is a tumor. This diagnostic test can also show the size of the tumor and also see its exact location.

A biopsy can be used to determine if the tumor is malignant. The doctor obtains small sample of the nasopharynx to examine the cells of nasopharynx under the microscope.

Treatment

• Lateral rhinotomy is a minimally invasive surgery used to resect the tumor from the nasopharynx. It is usually effective in removing the tumor completely.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed