Malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx
This is a type of cancer that grows in the nasopharynx, which is the very top part of your throat, right behind your nose.
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Find General PhysiciansClinical Overview
The nasopharynx is a small area located behind your nose and above the back of your throat. When cells here start to grow out of control, it is called a malignant neoplasm of the nasopharynx, or nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This area is responsible for helping you breathe and connecting your nose to your throat.
This condition happens when the DNA—the instructions inside your cells—becomes damaged, causing the cells to divide and form a tumor, which is a mass of abnormal tissue. Because this area is tucked away behind the nose, these growths are sometimes hard to notice until they cause physical changes.
Common Symptoms
- A lump in your neck, which is often caused by the cancer spreading to your lymph nodes, the small glands that help your body fight infection.
- A feeling of fullness or hearing loss in one ear.
- Persistent ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus.
- Frequent nosebleeds.
- Ongoing nasal congestion or a stuffy nose that does not go away.
- Double vision or blurry vision.
- Numbness in your face.