Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Review of how imaging affects staging

Imaging plays an important sole in the staging of carcinoma of the nasophar ynx. Accurate staging is necessary as the treatment is directly dependent o n stage. Clinical examination provides information on mucosal involvement b ut is unable to determine the deep extension or presence of skull base inva sion or intracranial spread. The 1997 International Union Against Cancer (U ICC)and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manuals were a co llaborative project that provided a unified classification for nasopharynge al carcinoma (NPC). The majority of staging can be identified only on imagi ng and not by clinical examination. The intent of this article is to provid e information on the specific imaging findings that will directly affect th e stage and treatment of NPC.