Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical assessment and review of 176 cases

Objective. The objective of this study was to delineate salient disease cha racteristics and to determine factors associated with survival in a series of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Study design. To address our research objective, we used a retrospective co hort study design and a sample of patients who presented for evaluation and management of NPC. Demographic data, medical history, radiographic finding s, staging, and histology were recorded. Treatment and follow-up informatio n were ascertained. Survival data and descriptive statistics were calculate d. Multivariate analyses identified risk factors associated with survival r ates for ail World Health Organization (WHO) types. Results, The sample comprised 123 men and 53 women (n = 176) of which 70% w ere white and 23% were Asian. A neck mass was the initial symptom in 49% of patients. In 99% of cases, radiation therapy was the primary treatment mod e. WHO types 1 and 3 were most common. Overall 5-year disease-free survival rate was 45.5%. Age, use of tobacco or ethanol, and number of presenting s ymptoms were statistically associated with decreased survival rate in WHO 1 (squamous cell) tumors. Male gender and total number of presenting symptom s were associated with decreased survival rate for WHO 2 and 3 (nonkeratini zing or undifferentiated) tumors. Conclusions. Being attuned to the presenting signs of NPC may lead to a mor e expedient diagnosis. The differing risk factors associated with WHO 1 tum ors become clear in this predominantly white population.