title: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: clinical assessment and review of 176 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to delineate salient disease characteristics and to determine factors associated with survival in a series of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  To address our research objective, we used a retrospective cohort study design and a sample of patients who presented for evaluation and management of NPC. Demographic data, medical history, radiographic findings, staging, and histology were recorded. Treatment and follow-up information were ascertained. Survival data and descriptive statistics were calculated. Multivariate analyses identified risk factors associated with survival rates for all World Health Organization (WHO) types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 123 men and 53 women (n = 176) of which 70% were white and 23% were Asian. A neck mass was the initial symptom in 49% of patients. In 99% of cases, radiation therapy was the primary treatment mode. WHO types 1 and 3 were most common. Overall 5-year disease-free survival rate was 45.5%. Age, use of tobacco or ethanol, and number of presenting symptoms were statistically associated with decreased survival rate in WHO 1 (squamous cell) tumors. Male gender and total number of presenting symptoms were associated with decreased survival rate for WHO 2 and 3 (nonkeratinizing or undifferentiated) tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being attuned to the presenting signs of NPC may lead to a more expedient diagnosis. The differing risk factors associated with WHO 1 tumors become clear in this predominantly white population.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: August
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nastri
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D044465:White People