Skull Base Condition (Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma(NPC))

What is Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma?

There are two distinct types of this types of this cancer of the back of the nose:
->Undiffenrentiated non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)- this is more common in
people from Southern China and Chinese people from Hong Kong. It is associated with EBV.
->Differentiated keratinizing SCC- this has similar at risk groups to the majority of head and
neck cancers.

Presentation
->Epistaxis
->Nasal obstruction
->Lymph node metastasis
->Middle ear effusion
->Extensive tumours can involve the skull base and cause cranial nerve palsies.

Investigations
Patients will be given a CT and/or an MRI scan

--*Important*--
Every patient presenting with a unilateral middle ear effusion must have their postnasal space visualized to exclude an NPC.

Treatment
Radiotherapy is given for all stages. Neck dissection may be necessary if there are extensive lymph node metastases.