Tinnitus and deafness should alert you to the occurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer

If unexplained deafness and tinnitus occur, it may not be a problem with the ears, but may be nasopharyngeal cancer.

Mr. Li, who is nearly 70 years old, developed tinnitus symptoms a few years ago. Since it did not affect his normal life, he did not take any treatment. But later, he suddenly could not hear in his right ear, so he went to the hospital for treatment accompanied by his family.

After examination, the ENT doctor diagnosed Mr. Li with "neurological tinnitus" in his right ear and gave him neurotrophic drugs, vascular hormones, hyperbaric oxygen and other treatments for nearly two months. However, Mr. Li's hearing did not improve, and the tinnitus persisted, with the symptoms sometimes worsening.

So Mr. Li went to a larger hospital for examination. The physical examination showed that the left eardrum was intact and the marks were clear, while the right eardrum was slightly congested and sunken. Indirect nasopharyngeal endoscopy revealed that the mucosa of the right nasopharyngeal apex, pharyngeal recess and Eustachian tube protuberance was rough and uneven. Pathological examination of nasopharyngeal biopsy confirmed it to be poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx.

Later, he underwent radiotherapy and then adjuvant chemotherapy. After the treatment, there has been no sign of recurrence.

If the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumor is in the pharyngeal recess or the occipital area of ​​the Eustachian tube, the tumor will infiltrate and compress the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube, which will lead to symptoms and signs of secretory otitis media, such as tinnitus, hearing loss and even deafness. Mr. Li is in this condition.