Nasopharyngeal cancer
Diagnosing nasopharyngeal cancer
If you see your GP with symptoms that could indicate nasopharyngeal cancer, they'll usually ask about your symptoms and carry out some examinations. This may involve examining your throat using a small mirror and a light.
If your GP thinks further tests are necessary, they'll refer you to hospital. At hospital, a number of different tests may be carried out to check for nasopharyngeal cancer and rule out other conditions.
Some of the tests you may have include:
- a nasendoscopy where a thin, flexible telescope (endoscope) is inserted up your nose and passed down your throat to look for any abnormalities; it's carried out while you're awake, but local anaesthetic can be used to numb your nose and throat
- imaging scans magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans or computerised tomography (CT) scans can be used to check for tumours and determine whether the cancer has spread
- a panendoscopy a more detailed examination of your nose and throat carried out under general anaesthetic (where you're unconscious) using a series of small, rigid telescopes connected together
- a biopsy where a small tissue sample is removed during a panendoscopy so it can be examined in a laboratory
Once these tests are complete, your doctors will be able to confirm whether you have nasopharyngeal cancer. They'll also be able to "stage" the cancer, which means giving it a score to describe how large it is and how far it has spread.
The Cancer Research UK website has more information about the stages of nasopharyngeal cancer .
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Definition
Find out what nasopharyngeal cancer is, what the signs and symptoms are, what causes it, and how it's diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer
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What causes nasopharyngeal cancer?
The exact cause of nasopharyngeal cancer is unknown, buta number of factors can increase your risk of developing the condition. These include: being of south Chinese or north African descent having a
Diagnosing nasopharyngeal cancer
If you see your GP with symptoms that could indicate nasopharyngeal cancer, they'll usually ask about your symptoms and carry out some examinations. This may involve examining your throat using a smal
How nasopharyngeal cancer is treated
If you're diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, you'll be cared for by a team of different specialists who work together called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). Members of your MDT will discuss with yo
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