[New developments in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare condition, with less than 300 cases occurring per year in France. Its treatment can be difficult due to the importance of side effects, but tumor control is usually excellent following a well conducted chemoradiotherapy. This article summarizes the recent advances in nasopharyngeal cancer diagnosis, classification, treatment, surveillance and management of recurrences. Chemotherapy timing is discussed, along with arguments in favor of induction chemotherapy in locally advanced cases. As a survival advantage has been suggested for when patients are treated in high volume center it seems reasonable to refer these young patients for treatment to tertiary expert centers, especially given the low incidence of the disease.

Keywords: Cancer du nasopharynx; Chemotherapy; Chimiothérapie; Epstein Barr virus; Meta-analysis; Méta-analyse; Nasopharyngeal cancer; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie; Virus Epstein Barr.