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Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
Patient VersionHealth Professional VersionEn españolLast Modified: 09/20/2007



General Information About Nasopharyngeal Cancer







Stages of Nasopharyngeal Cancer






Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer






Treatment Option Overview






Treatment Options by Stage






Treatment Options for Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer






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Changes to This Summary (09/20/2007)






About PDQ



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Stages of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Key Points for This Section


After nasopharyngeal cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the nasopharynx or to other parts of the body.

The process used to find out whether cancer has spread within the nasopharynx or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnose nasopharyngeal cancer are often also used to stage the disease.

The following stages are used for nasopharyngeal cancer:

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the nasopharynx. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

Stage I

In stage I, cancer has formed and is found in the nasopharynx only.

Enlarge
Pea, peanut, walnut, and lime show tumor sizes.

Stage II

Stage II nasopharyngeal cancer is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB as follows:

Stage III

In stage III nasopharyngeal cancer, the cancer:

  • is found in the nasopharynx and has spread to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
  • has spread into the soft tissues (oropharynx and/or nasal cavity) and to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
  • has spread beyond the soft tissues into areas around the pharynx and to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
  • has spread to nearby bones or sinuses and may have spread to lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck and the involved lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller.

Stage IV

Stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer is divided into stage IVA, stage IVB, and stage IVC as follows:

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