A Frequent Childhood Tumor in Mediterranean Basin: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare malignancy of childhood having different epidemiological, histopathological and clinical characteristics. The most frequent histopathological type is undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and is associated with advanced locoregional disease and distant metastasis in childhood. Because of high incidence of systemic disease in childhood, chemotherapy is the first choice in treatment of advanced disease. Although 5 year’s survival rates have reached 70% with combined therapy modalities, late complications continue to be major problem. Parallel to improvement in the diagnostic skills and therapy, there is an increase in survivors of childhood cancer. Since late effects of cancer therapy can be encountered more often, closer follow-up of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who are under serious treatment schemes is an obligation.
Keywords
Childhood nasopharyngeal carcinoma, therapy modalities, complications
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