Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose and near the base of skull. A carcinoma is a cancer that starts in epithelial cells, the cells lining the internal and external surfaces of the body. Although the incidence varies according to geographic location, approximately 1 in every 100,000 children are diagnosed annually in North America. Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually involves radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of the two. In certain cases, surgery may be used to remove a tumor from the nasopharynx.

This usually requires surgeons to make an incision in the roof of your mouth to access the area to remove the cancerous tissue. Although there have been many studies conducted on the etiology of NPC, currently an understanding of the interaction between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, genetic factors, and environment in the development of NPC has not been achieved.Thus, there is a need to conduct secondary prevention, such as improving rates of early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment in NPC patients. Achievements in these areas might bring hope of providing a successful screening model in cancer.