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Carcinoma of the oropharynx (middle part of the
throat) is usually a squamous cell carcinoma. Heavy smoking and poor oral
hygiene are the major risk factors of the oropharyngeal carcinoma. Symptoms of
the oropharyngeal carcinoma include persistent sore throat, foreign body
sensation or lump in the throat, enlargement of the neck lymph nodes and change
of voice. There may be difficulty in swallowing & breathing, earache and
weight loss.
Staging of the carcinoma of the oropharynx is done as follows:
Diagnosis of the oropharyngeal carcinoma is confirmed by laryngoscopy and biopsy.
Carcinoma of the nasopharynx (upper part of the
throat) is mostly a squamous cell carcinoma. It usually originates in the fossa
of Rosenmuller. Risk factors of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma include Epstein
Barr Virus infection and deficiency of vitamin C.
Carcinoma of the nasopharynx usually presents
with a lump in the nasopharynx that may lead to the nasal obstruction, nasal
voice, dysphagia, epistaxis, toothache, earache and hearing loss. There may be
involvement of the cervical and the retropharyngeal lymph nodes. The tumour may
invade foramen lacerum involving trigeminal and facial nerves. Carcinoma of the
nasopharynx may spread posteriolaterally to the parapharyngeal space, involving
the 9th, 10th, 11th and the 12th cranial nerves along with mandibular branch of
the trigeminal nerve. The nasopharyngeal carcinoma may invade inferiorly into the
oropharynx, superiorly into the base of skull, laterally into the Eustachian
tubes and anteriorly into the nasal cavity.
Staging of the carcinoma of the nasopharynx is done as follows:
Procedures used to diagnose carcinoma of the nasopharynx include ENT examination, X-rays, nasopharyngoscopy and biopsy.
Carcinoma of the hypopharynx (lower part of the
throat) is a squamous cell carcinoma that originates in the pyriform sinus,
posterior pharyngeal wall and postcricoid area. Risk factors of the
hypopharyngeal carcinoma include chronic smoking, chronic alcoholism and iron
deficiency anaemia.
Carcinoma of the hypopharynx remains
asymptomatic in early stages. In later stages, a mass in the neck may be
noticed as the first sign of hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Other symptoms include
foreign body sensation in the throat, change of voice, pain in the throat,
dysphagia, bloodstained saliva and weight loss. The hypopharyngeal carcinoma
usually spreads to the larynx, thyroid cartilage and the oesophagus by
submucosal infiltration.
Staging of the carcinoma of the hypopharynx is done as follows:
Procedures used in the diagnosis of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma includes laryngoscopy, CT scan and biopsy.
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Carcinoma of Pharynx (Oropharynx, Nasopharynx and Hypopharynx)