Advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most familiar cancer originating in the nasopharynx, and not uncommonly found in the head and neck region in adults. Under appropriate and effective treatment, the outcome subsequent to medical intervention can be relatively good in adults with nasopharyngeal ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wan-Chen Kao, Jiann-Shiuh Chen, Chia-Jui Yen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-09-01
Series:Journal of Cancer Research and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2311300616301239
Description
Summary:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most familiar cancer originating in the nasopharynx, and not uncommonly found in the head and neck region in adults. Under appropriate and effective treatment, the outcome subsequent to medical intervention can be relatively good in adults with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, NPC is very uncommon in children younger than 10 years, and its incidence increases gradually with patient age. In general, NPC may be more aggressive in character, with frequent distant metastasis while initial diagnosis in children. We reported the case of a 12-year-old girl with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, who was refractory to multiple chemotherapy regimens. We herein have provided a summary review of the literature regarding the incidence, characteristics, treatment and outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children, in the hopes of encouraging further investigations that will create additional treatment options for those who suffer NPR at any age.
ISSN:2311-3006