Tests that
examine the nose and throat are used to detect (find) and diagnose
nasopharyngeal cancer.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam of the throat: An exam in which the doctor feels for swollen
lymph nodes in the neck and looks down the throat with a small, long-handled
mirror to check for abnormal areas.
Nasoscopy: A procedure to look inside the
nose for abnormal areas. A nasoscope is inserted through the nose. A nasoscope
is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also
have a tool to remove tissue samples, which are checked under a microscope for
signs of cancer.
Neurological exam: A series of questions and tests to check the
brain, spinal cord, and nerve function. The exam checks a person's mental
status, coordination, and ability to walk normally, and how well the muscles,
senses, and reflexes work. This may also be called a neuro exam or a neurologic
exam.
Head and chest x-rays: An x-ray of the skull and organs and bones inside
the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and
onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a
series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also
called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
CT scan (CAT scan): A
procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body,
taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an
x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs
or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed
tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
PET scan
(positron emission tomography scan): A procedure to find malignant tumor cells
in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a
vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where
glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the
picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells
do. PET scans may be used to find nasopharyngeal cancers that have spread to the
bone.
Laboratory tests: Medical procedures that test samples of tissue, blood,
urine, or other substances in the body. These tests help to diagnose disease,
plan and check treatment, or monitor the disease over time.
Biopsy: The removal
of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to
check for signs of cancer.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Nosebleed is common in dry climates during winter months, and in hot dry climates with low humidity. Individual taking blood clotting medications, aspirin, or antiinflammatory medications may be more prone to nose bleeding. Other factors that contribute to nosebleed are trauma (including nose picking), rhinitis, and high blood pressure. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. These cancers account for 3% to 5% of cancers in the U.S. Tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
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