Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines. J Laryngol Otol. 2016 May;130(S2):S97-S103 Authors: Simo R, Robinson M, Lei M, Sibtain A, Hickey S Abstract This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. Although much commoner in the eastern hemisphere, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 0.39 per 100 000 population, cancers of the nasopharynx form one of the rarer subsites in the head and neck.1 This paper provides recommendations on the work up and management of nasopharyngeal cancer based on the existing evidence base for this condition. Recommendations • Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) should be assessed with rigid and fibre-optic nasendoscopy. (R) • Nasopharyngeal biopsies should be preferably carried out endoscopically. (R) • Multislice computed tomographic (CT) scan of head, neck and chest should be carried out in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where appropriate to optimise staging. (R) • Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay for the radical treatment for NPC. (R) • Concurrent chemoradiotherapy offers significant improvement in overall survival in stage III and IV diseases. (R) • Surgery should only be used to obtain tissue for diagnosis and to deal with otitis media with effusion. (R) • Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for stage I and II disease. (R...
Source: Journal of Laryngology and Otology - Category: ENT & OMF Tags: J Laryngol Otol Source Type: research