Clinical presentation of nasopharyngeal cancer in Yemen.

Abstract

Objective: To describe clinical presentation of nasopharyngeal cancer. Methods: Study performed on 100 patients who had been histologically diagnosed as having nasopharyngeal cancer between October 2002 and September 2005 in ENT department, Al-Thawra Teaching Hospital, Sana\'a, Yemen. A detailed medical history, clinical examination, biopsy and histopathological study were performed. Results: One hundered diagnosed nasopharyngeal cancer patients were included in this study, 70 males 30 and females. Their age ranged from 10-59 years, the high incidence was in age group 40-49 years (32%). The least cases were in age group 10-19 years (14%). The most presenting symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer were in the order of frequency: painless neck mass 60%, nasal obstruction 50%, headache, 34%, hearing loss 32%, epistaxis, 10%, trismus 4%, loss of vision 2%, diplopia and squint 2%. Conclusion: The majority of nasopharyngeal cancer were presented with painless cervical lymph node either unilateral or bilateral. Nasal obstruction and hearing loss associated with headache were found in high percentage of patients. Cranial nerve palsies and trismus found in the late stages.

Egyptian Journal of Biomedical Sciences Vol. 23 (1) 2007: pp. 237-243