Types of nasopharyngeal cancer

The article was written by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Minh Thuyen - Pathologist, Pathology Department - Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital

There are many different types of oropharyngeal cancer, knowing each type of cancer helps you better understand the level of danger, treatment direction as well as steps to take to help improve your health better. So what is oropharyngeal cancer and what are the common types of cancer?

Cancer begins when cells grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancerous, and can spread to other areas. Nasopharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that begins in the oropharynx, the upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose, and near the base of the skull.
The oropharynx is the upper part of the pharynx (pharynx) located behind the nose. It is a box about 3.5cm each side, located just above the soft part of the floor of the mouth (soft palate) and just behind the nose.
The arch is almost a passageway for air to travel from the nose to the throat (and then to the lungs).

Several tumors can develop in the nasopharynx, of which some are benign (not cancerous), but others are malignant (cancerous). It is important to talk to your doctor about the type of tumor you may have.

Most nasopharyngeal cancers are NPCs. This is the most common cancer of the oropharynx. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells that line the inner and outer surfaces of the body (called epithelial cells).
There are 3 types of NPC, all of which start in the epithelium lining the nasopharynx, but the cells of each look different under the microscope:
Non-keratinizing carcinoma: this is the most common type of NPC. most variable. Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment is the same for all NPC types. Non-keratinizing types tend to respond better to treatment, but the stage of the cancer (how far it has grown and spread) is often more important when assessing prognosis.

Other types of cancer can also be found in the nasopharynx:
Lymphoma: which can sometimes start in the nasopharynx, is cancer of immune system cells called lymphocytes (lymphocytes), found throughout the body, including in the nasopharynx. Adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma: These are cancers that can start in the sub-nasopharynx salivary glands. But these cancers are more common in the nose (nasal cavity) or mouth (oral cavity).

Benign nasopharyngeal tumors are rarer and tend to develop in children and young adults. These tumors do not spread to other parts of the body and are usually not life-threatening. These include tumors or malformations of the vascular system, such as angiofibromas and hemangiomas, and benign tumors of the accessory salivary glands. Benign nasopharyngeal tumors do not always require treatment, and treatment is not the same as for nasopharyngeal cancer.
Currently, nasopharyngeal cancers are on the rise and younger. Therefore, proactively performing oropharyngeal cancer screening as well as periodic health check-ups are very important to prolong life and reduce treatment costs for patients themselves.
With synchronous investment in modern machinery and equipment and a team of doctors and experts from home and abroad, Vinmec International General Hospital has specialized examination services to help detect cancer early. nasopharyngeal, hypopharynx, larynx are the best.
The above examination is recommended to be applied to all subjects over 30 years old as well as customers who need periodic examination to screen for cancer and people with suspicious symptoms. With quality service and in-depth medical care, Vinmec has now become a prestigious address in nasopharyngeal cancer screening that you can completely trust.

Article referenced source: American Cancer Society