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Volume 3 Issue 5 November (Supplement) 2015

Review Articles

PATHOGENESIS, ETIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA
Ashok Shah

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that usually develops around the ostium of the Eustachian tube in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx. The World Health Organization classifies NPC into three histopathological types based on the degree of differentiation. In endemic regions, NPC presents as a complex disease caused by an interaction of the oncogenic gamma herpes virus EBV chronic infection, environmental, and genetic factors, in a multistep carcinogenic process. The most common presenting symptom is cervical lymphadenopathy, followed by nasal, aural and neurological symptoms. Once the diagnosis is suspected on clinical grounds, histological confirmation of the diagnosis is mandatory. Radiotherapy is the mainstay treatment for early disease and concurrent cisplatin/radiotherapy has been demonstrated to prolong survival in locoregionally advanced disease. Ongoing studies of targeting agents and immunotherapeutic approaches may further improve treatment results.
Key words: Genetic, Histopathological, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Radiotherapy.

 
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