Nasopharyngeal Carc?noma in Ch?ldren and Adolescents: Exper?ence of EGE Un?vers?ty from Turkey

Abstract

Nazan Cetingul, Akkız Sahin, Haldun Oniz, Bengu Demirag, Serra Kamer, Mehmet Kantar, Serap Aksoylar, Savas Kansoy, Salih Gozmen, Ali Veral, Hudaver Alper and Yavuz Anacak

Nasopharynx cancer is a rare (3%) epithelial cancer which is seen in childhood and adolescence. It accounts for 30- 50% of the nasopharynx malignities at this age group. Incidence is high in China, South East Asia and Mediterranean countries. Genetic and geographic components play a major role in this high incidence. In these endemic regions, non-keratinized and undifferentiated carcinoma (type 2 and type 3) are histopathologically frequent and it is found that Ebstein – Barr virus (EBV) genes are related to the tumor. In our country, especially undifferentiated nasopharynx cancer is closely related to EBV infection. In childhood and adolescence, it is seen in localized advanced disease, also systemic disease characteristics are high. In recent years, primarily with cisplatine based chemotherapy protocol and appropriate doses of radiotherapy (RT), survival rates have reached 80-90%.

In this retrospective study, our aim was to evaluate the clinical features, histophathology, treatment results and survival rates along with late toxicities of patients with NPC.

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