nasopharynx Flashcards
most common country where nasopharynx cancer is?
china, north africa and inuit
gender for nasopharynx cncer
M:F 2:1
What causes nasopharynx cancer?
Epstein Barr Virus is a very strong association HLA-A2 NOT related to smoking and drinking diet ( salted, cured and smoked meats) exposure ( formaldehyde, dust and fumes)
subsides of nasopharynx cancer
Posterosuperior and lateral pharyngeal wall
Eustachian tube orifice
Adenoids
nasopharynx lies on a line between ________and ________ and extends inferiorly to __________.
between zygomatic arch and External Auditory Meatus
extends inferiorly to mastoid tip
nasopharynx lies behind _____. and above_____.
lies behind nasal cavity and above the soft palate
what cranial nerves are most commonly involved in nasopharynx cancer
3rd and mist commonly the 6th nerve because it is close to the base of the brain
_______is commonly involved in nasopharynx cancer
cranial nerves
the ___to _____cranial nerves can be affected by enlargement of the retropharyngeal nodes, as can the external carotid artery
9th to 12th
nasopharynx cancer often invades what ____wall?
the lateral wall
local spread in nasopharynx
sup, inf, ant, post and lat
SUP: via the foramen lacerum into the cavernous sinus with involvement of the cranial nerves II & VI and erosion of the skull
INF: oropharyngeal wall and soft palate
ANT: infratemporal fossa and foramen ovale to involve the mandibular division of nerve V
POST: prevertebral musculature
LAT: medial ostium of Eustachian tube (blockage produces deafness)
how common is palpable LN nasopharynx cancer?what does this mean for treatment?
70-85% have palpable LN at presentation
this means we always treat the LN
What LN are always treated in nasopharynx cancer?l
jugulodigastric and retropharyngeal Ln
most common spread in nasopharynx cancer?
direct extension extends to: Nose Orbit Eustachian tube Cavernous sinus Cribriform plate Pterygoid muscles Parapharyngeal space
dose nasopharynx present early ornate and why?
late due to nasopharynx symptoms being cold like
what is involved in advanced stage nasopharynx cancer?
tumour may involve oropharynx, particularly the lateral or post wall
most common distant sites for nasopharynx cancer
most common is bone then lung and liver
what do nasopharynx cancer symptoms present like?
like a cold
local nasopharynx signs and symptoms
Epistaxis (nosebleed) Nasal obstruction Headache Hearing deficit Otalgia (ear pain) Nasal discharge Loss of smell Symptoms related to cranial neuropathies ex. Double vision Occasionally, nasal twang in voice
regional nasopharynx signs and symptoms
Neck mass MOST COMMON
Neck pain
Hemorrhage
Proptosis (bulging of eye anteriorly out of orbit) may occur if extended into the orbit
Cranial nerves III through VI are involved by extension of tumour up through the foramen lacerum to the cavernous sinus
Nerves I, VII and VIII are rarely involved
signs and symptoms of metastatic nasopharynx cancer
Bone pain COMMON
Abdominal pain COMMON
Cough
SOB
diagnostic methods of nasopharynx cancer
Complete history
Nasopharyngoscopy: thin tube with an eyepiece on the end to evaluate the nasopharynx
Extent of neck node mets must be assessed and search made for distant mets
Biopsies must be done of the nasopharynx and adjacent suspicious areas
most common histopathology of nasopharynx cancerr
SCC
WHO grade 1 histopathology nasopharynx cancer
keratinizing SCC (20%cases)
WHO grade 2 histopathology nasopharynx cancer
differentiating non keratinizing SCC (10%cases)
WHO grade 3 histopathology nasopharynx cancer
undifferentiated carcinoma LYMPHOEPITHELIOMA (poorly differentiated carcinoma 70% cases)
grades for nasopharynx cancer
n.b. that the staging is different for nasopharynx than other H&N cancer stage1- T1 N0 M0 stage 2- T1 N1 M0 T2 N0 M0 T2 N1 M0 stage 3 T1-T2 N2 M0 T3 N0-N2 M0 Stage 4, T4, N0-N2, M0 any T any N M1 any T N3, M0