What should we pay attention to when staging nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

How is nasopharyngeal carcinoma staged? What should be paid attention to during treatment?

The main stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are:

1. Stage I: The primary cancer is confined to the nasopharynx, has not spread to the lymph nodes, and has no distant metastasis.

2. Stage II: The primary lesion invades the nasal cavity but not the lymph nodes, and there is no distant metastasis. The primary cancer is confined to the upper nasopharyngeal area, with active or fixed lymph nodes with a diameter of less than 3 cm, and no distant metastasis.

3. Stage III primary cancer invades bones, paranasal sinuses or cranial nerves, no lymph nodes are felt and there is no distant metastasis. There are movable or fixed lymph nodes in the upper neck area with a diameter of less than 3 cm. The primary lesion invades the nasal cavity, oropharynx or involves the adjacent muscles and nerves below the skull base, without distant metastasis.

4. Stage IV: The primary lesion invades the nasal cavity, oropharynx, or involves adjacent muscles and nerves below the skull base. The primary cancer invades the bone, paranasal sinuses, or cranial nerves, or invades the hypopharyngeal cavity, orbit, or infratemporal fossa. There is distant metastasis or involvement of the skin or lymph nodes below the clavicle.

5. Fixed lymph nodes with a diameter of less than 8CM in the lower neck area, any enlarged lymph nodes with a diameter of more than 8CM in the neck area, or enlarged lymph nodes in the supraclavicular fossa or infiltration of the supraclavicular skin.