{"id":1131,"date":"2018-08-01T17:48:30","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T12:18:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babrone.avfu.ac.in\/blog\/?p=1131"},"modified":"2018-11-12T15:04:56","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T09:34:56","slug":"nasopharyngeal-carcinoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babrone.avfu.ac.in\/blog\/?p=1131","title":{"rendered":"Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/b><\/span><\/span>: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is a malignant tumour of nasopharynx; squamous cell variety is the commonest. This is common in yellow races, but incidence in India is also quite high. It commonly occurs in elderly persons between 50-60 years of age. In Afro-Asian countries incidence below 30 years of age is rather more common. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Aetiology:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The exact aetiology is not known. The factors responsible are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Genetic<\/b><\/span><\/span>– Chinese have a higher genetic susceptibility to nasopharyngeal cancer. Even after migration to other countries, they continue to have higher incidence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Viral<\/b><\/span><\/span>– Epstein- Barr (EB) virus is closely associated with nasopharyangeal cancer. Specific viral markers are being developed to screen people in high incidence areas. EB virus has two important antigens – Viral Capsid Protein (VCP) and early antigen (EA). IgA antibodies to EA are highly specific for nasopharyngeal cancer but have sensitivity of only 70-80% while IgA antibodies to VCP are more sensitive but less specific.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Environmental<\/b><\/span><\/span>– Pollution, smoking of tobacco and opium, nitrosamines from dry salted fish, burning of incense and wood has been incriminated as probable cause of nasopharyngeal cancer.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Pathology<\/b><\/span><\/span>– <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Grossly, the tumour occurs in three forms:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n