MANAGEMENT OF THE NECK IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA (NPC)

Management of cervical nodal metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) begins with a thorough assessment of the patient to determine ex tent of the disease process at the primary site, regionally and system atically. Detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the head and neck will facilitate an accurate diagnosis and subsequent staging of each indivi dual patient. The use of the appropriate diagnostic tools such as imag ing, fine-needle aspiration studies, and serology direct the clinician to the appropriate management scheme. This article attempts to cull i nformation from various clinicians who treat the majority of NPC patie nts, and to raise the issue of the need for more innovative approaches .