Early symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The early symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are diverse and easy to be ignored, but its early detection is crucial for treatment. The main symptoms include respiration of blood in the nose, ear symptoms, headache, facial numbness and unilateral nasal congestion, while cervical lymphadenopathy is also an important sign.

1. Regurgitation of blood in the nose

In the early stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, patients may experience respiration of blood in their sputum or blood in their nose, which is a manifestation of bleeding on the surface of the tumor.

2. Ear symptoms

Ear symptoms such as tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of blockage in the ear are also common early manifestations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These symptoms may be caused by the tumor compressing the Eustachian tube.

3. Headache

Headache, especially fixed and persistent headache, is an important signal of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which may be related to the tumor invading the skull base bones, nerves and blood vessels.

4. Facial numbness

Numbness of the facial skin is another early symptom of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is caused by the tumor invading the nerves. Clinical examination may show a decrease or disappearance of pain and touch.

5. Unilateral nasal congestion

As the tumor grows, the patient may experience unilateral nasal congestion, and anti-cold treatment may be ineffective. This is an important feature that distinguishes nasopharyngeal carcinoma from the common cold.

6. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prone to cervical lymph node metastasis. About 60% to 86% of patients will have cervical lymph node enlargement. This sign is of great significance for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Knowing the early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer is crucial for early detection and treatment. When the above symptoms appear, you should seek medical attention for further examination and treatment.