What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastases to the brain?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is gradually understood by many patients today. When treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is very important to use the right medication. The following editor will introduce to you what are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis to the brain?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the most common tumors in China, with Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian and other provinces being one of the most common tumors in my country. The incidence rate in men is 2-3 times that in women, and the age group with the highest incidence rate is 40-50 years old.

Due to the hidden anatomical location of the nasopharynx, the early symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are atypical, and diagnosis is easily delayed clinically, so special vigilance should be exercised.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastases to the brain and manifests clinical symptoms such as fatigue, hemiplegia, hemiphasia, aphasia, ataxia, nystagmus, etc. Metastatic tumors located in the sellar region manifest as polydipsia and polyuria. Increased intracranial pressure is a typical manifestation of brain metastasis in patients. Due to the rapid growth of the tumor and severe edema around it, the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure are more obvious. Patients will experience a series of symptoms such as headache, malignant vomiting, and drowsiness. CT shows isodense, low-density or high-density shadows, with obvious surrounding edema bands. Sometimes low-density metastatic tumors are covered by edema bands and are difficult to detect.

During enhanced scanning, metastatic lesions are ring-shaped or uniformly enhanced. Enhanced brain MRI scans can help distinguish radiation-induced brain damage from brain metastatic lesions. There are reports that patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may have single metastatic lesions in the cerebellopontine angle, and MRI can sensitively detect metastases in this rare location.

Since most NPCs are poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, radiotherapy is the first choice for treatment, and 60Co or linear accelerator high-energy radiotherapy is often used. The 5-year survival rate of radiotherapy is about 45%. Local recurrence and metastasis of NPC after radiotherapy is the main cause of death. Some patients who still have residual local lesions after external irradiation of 60~70Gy can cooperate with intracavitary afterloading therapy.

Through the above introduction, patients can understand more clearly the symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis to the brain.