What tests should be done for early stage nasopharyngeal cancer

Early nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be screened through nasopharyngeal endoscopy, Epstein-Barr virus serological testing and imaging examinations. Nasopharyngeal endoscopy directly observes nasopharyngeal lesions, Epstein-Barr virus serological testing assesses the risk of viral infection, and imaging examinations such as CT or MRI clarify the extent of the tumor.

1. Nasopharyngeal endoscopy is the preferred method for early screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Doctors use nasopharyngeal endoscopy to directly observe the nasopharyngeal mucosa and can find small lesions or abnormal proliferation. The examination process is non-invasive, and the patient only needs local anesthesia. The examination time is about 10 minutes. For suspicious lesions, doctors can also perform biopsies at the same time to obtain tissue samples for pathological diagnosis.

2. Epstein-Barr virus serological testing is an important auxiliary means of nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening. By detecting Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies in the blood, such as VCA-IgA and EA-IgA, the virus infection status is assessed. Epstein-Barr virus is closely related to the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and increased antibody levels indicate an increased risk of disease. This test is simple and quick, requiring only a small amount of blood, and is suitable for large-scale screening.

3. Imaging examinations include CT and MRI, which can clarify the location, size and invasion range of the tumor. CT examination can clearly show the bone structure of the nasopharynx and evaluate the degree of tumor infiltration into surrounding tissues. MRI has high resolution for soft tissue and can more accurately determine the tumor boundary and lymph node metastasis. The two examinations complement each other and provide important basis for formulating treatment plans.

Early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is crucial to prognosis. It is recommended that high-risk groups undergo regular nasopharyngeal endoscopy, combined with Epstein-Barr virus serological testing and imaging examinations, to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment, improve cure rates, and improve quality of life.