Stages of development and progression of oropharyngeal cancer

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Nasopharyngeal cancer is the leading cancer in the head - face - neck area, with rapid progression, high mortality rate. It is one of the 10 most common types of cancer in the world. There are many different ways of dividing the stage to facilitate monitoring and treatment.

1. nasopharyngeal cancer stage 1

In the early stages of throat cancer, there are often no obvious symptoms, so it is often difficult to detect the disease at this stage.
The most common symptom is a migraine headache, which can be intermittent or constant dull pain.
Pain symptoms are not relieved when taking pain relievers, can be accompanied by a headache, runny nose, easily confused with the flu.

2. Nasopharyngeal cancer stage 2

This stage is also known as focal stage. Common clinical manifestations are as follows:
2.1 Neurological symptoms The most common are headache, migraine or deep pain in the eye socket, regional pain. Sun. There may be damage to the cranial nerves in late patients, such as: compression of the trigeminal nerve leading to numbness in the mouth and face on the same side of the head. 2.2 Symptoms of the nose - sinuses Nasal congestion on the same side as the headache. Initially, asphyxiation is infrequent, then continuous asphyxiation is accompanied by a runny nose with mucus, there may be purulent sinusitis, sometimes nasal mucus discharge with blood.
2.3 Ear symptoms Nasopharyngeal cancer, tumors appear in the pharynx where the ear, nose and throat are connected, so the ear is also affected. The most common symptom is a feeling of discomfort like earwax, which occurs on the same side as the painful side of the head. Tinnitus, hearing loss, in some cases may have otitis media due to superinfection. 2.4 Symptoms of lymph nodes Up to 805 patients when diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer had lymph nodes. Common in cervical (most common) and mandibular angle lymph nodes (typical case), lymph nodes appear on the same side as the tumor. Manifestations: The lymph nodes are small at first, then gradually enlarged, the lymph nodes are hard, painless, no inflammatory manifestations around the lymph nodes, the larger the lymph nodes, the more limited their mobility. there is swelling and necrosis. Patients with lymphadenopathy are easily misdiagnosed with primary lymphoma.

3. Nasopharyngeal cancer stage 3

At this stage, the patient has a general deterioration with poor appetite, insomnia, weight loss, anemia, skin discoloration (usually straw yellow), often has high fever due to superinfection.
Depending on the location and size of the tumor, there will be other accompanying symptoms.
3.1 Clinical case with symptoms spreading anteriorly Common in tumors in the roof of the dome and the posterior nasal cavity. Manifestations: Initially, the tumor spread into the nasal cavity, causing nasal obstruction. Then, when the tumor gradually increased in size, it filled the nasal passages, causing stuffy noses on both sides, saying that the nose was swollen with pus with a foul smell, possibly with blood. On examination, it can be seen that the wart in the back of the nose is necrotic, easy to bleed. 3.2 Clinical case, symptoms spread to both sides Usually in the tumor in the eustachian tube then spread along the eustachian tube to the middle ear. Manifestations: tinnitus, hearing loss on one side with pain in the ear spreading to the mastoid region, ear discharge with pus and blood sometimes even necrotic organs, unpleasant odor. Examination of otoscope showed warts, necrosis, easy bleeding, perforated eardrum. 3.3 Clinical case, symptoms spread downwards The tumor spreads downward, causing bulging of the pharynx, affecting the voice, frequent swallowing. Tumor spread to the mouth, paralysis of the pharynx. 3.4 Clinical case of symptoms spreading to the base of the skull causing intracranial syndrome including increased intracranial pressure with signs of focal nerve damage:
Butterfly cleft syndrome: Including cord paralysis Nerves III, VI and ophthalmic branches of nerve V lead to paralysis of the oculomotor muscles, pain in the orbit and frontal region. Rock syndrome: The patient has strabismus, hemifacial numbness, and jaw tightness due to paralysis of nerves V and VI. Stone-butterfly syndrome: Manifestations of pharyngeal sensory paralysis, pharyngeal paralysis, sternal mastoid muscle paralysis, positive pharyngeal retraction sign, double voice due to damage to nerves II, III, IV, V and XI . There are also posterior foramen syndrome, condylar syndrome and garcin syndrome (total paralysis of 12 pairs of cranial nerves on one side).

4. End stage nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal cancer like other cancers, cancer cells are malignant cells that have the ability to spread, grow and metastasize to other parts of the body. The progression of nasopharyngeal cancer also depends on the patient's health status, the ability of the immune system to function, and supportive treatments. Some patients progress within a few months, and in some cases it takes several years.
In the final stage of oropharyngeal cancer, cancer patients have a complete breakdown in health as well as the functioning of the immune system.
Throat area swollen, painful can necrosis and bleed. The lymph nodes are enlarged, painful, and necrotic. The whole body's weakened immune system leads to other diseases, especially infectious diseases, necrotic ulcers that appear in the cancer area and can be seen in the surrounding areas. Patients in addition to symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer also have signs of metastatic areas. At this stage, the patient is at high risk of death, which can occur at any time. Throat cancer is a serious disease that directly affects human health.
Therefore, doctors recommend people to raise awareness of the importance of throat cancer screening as well as regular health check-ups.
The package of screening, and early detection of oropharyngeal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers at Vinmec International General Hospital includes:
Full range of necessary services for early detection of oropharyngeal cancer Detecting abnormalities When registering for the screening package, and early detecting cancer of the oropharynx, pharynx, larynx, customers will be screened for nasopharyngeal - hypopharyngeal - laryngeal cancer. through general otolaryngology examination with hard or soft endoscope; Software ultrasound, thereby detecting the disease early, improving the effectiveness of treatment, increasing the survival rate for patients.
If you have abnormal health symptoms, want to be more informed about cancer, please contact us HERE for timely examination and treatment advice.
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