Neuro-ophthalmic Manifestation Of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma At Ilorin: A Five Year Review

Abstract

Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) may present with neuro-ophthalmic symptoms including visual loss. Involvement of the cranial nerves have been found to impact significantly on the individual\'s 5 year survival rate,whichmakes an early diagnosis of this condition of great importance in the management ofNPC.
Aretrospective reviewof all patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of NPC
over a five year period between 1999 and 2003was carried out. Information retrieved from the records include their age, symptoms and signs with emphases on neuro-ophthalmic at presentation. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical package. Twenty records out of the 23 patients with a diagnosis of NPC seen during this period were available for review.The age rangewas between 20 and 60years, theMeanwas 38.9years, SD11.62. Sixty percent of the patients had neuroophthalmic manifestation with symptoms such as ocular pain, double vision, loss of vision and eye protrusion and signs such as ophthalmoplegia, exposure keratopathy and proptosis in various combinations. Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations were commonly found among patients diagnosed as NPC at Ilorin. A high index of suspicion of NPC whenever a patient presents with neuro-ophthalmic signs and symptomis advocated.

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma,Neuro-ophthalmic.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 376-378