title: Ophthalmo-neurologic manifestation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Ophthalmo-neurologic manifestations may be the first and sole presenting feature of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This may be mis-leading unless a high index of suspicion exists. A retrospective study with analysis of 79 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma seen in the 12 years between 1986 and 1997 is presented. Among the 79 cases seen and analysed 20 (25%) had ophthalmo-neurologic manifestations; showing that up to one quarter of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases could have neuro-ophthalmic manifestations. The ages ranged between 11 years and 70 years with a male: female ratio 2.4:1. This is in consonance with previous reports that nasopharyngeal carcinoma mostly affects males. In this study, visual impairment and corresponding optic nerve lesions constituted 20% of the manifestations. Diplopia and ophthalmoplegia constituted 17% and 18% respectively of the manifestations; these are in consonance with previous reports as seen in literatures. However ptosis (15%) and Horner's syndrome (3%) were essential manifestations seen in this study that were not found or documented in other previous reports. It shows that these could be part of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of malignant nasopharyngeal carcinoma prompting patients initial presentation to the ophthalmologist. This paper is thus to draw more attention to the significance of ophthalmo-neurologic signs and symptoms as an aid to early diagnosis of malignant nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This will no doubt improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogunleye
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Nwaorgu
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Adaramola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009549:Nigeria; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*