Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and the Role of Surgery

J Neurol Surg Rep. 2023 Jul 13;84(3):e68-e70. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1770966. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) presents unique challenges as reirradiation comes with significant treatment-related morbidity in swallowing, middle ear function, and large-vessel integrity. Advances in endoscopic technology have made surgery for rNPC an increasingly viable option for select patients and may play a role in providing a better quality of life to patients with this challenging disease. In carefully selected patients, endoscopic and open surgical approaches may provide comparable disease control while mitigating long-term treatment-related morbidity.

Keywords: endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; nasopharyngectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

Funding A.S. is supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders training grant T32DC000027. This research was supported (in part) by the Intramural Research Program of the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute.