A Retrospective Analysis of Nasopharyngeal Biopsy Results in Adult Patients

Abstract

Introduction The widespread use of endoscopic evaluation in otolaryngology practice enables early diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the complaints, endoscopic examination findings, preferred radiological imaging methods, and pathology results of patients who underwent endoscopic nasopharyngeal biopsy. Methods Medical records of 956 patients (543 males and 413 females) who underwent nasopharyngeal biopsy between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Age, gender, application complaint, endoscopic imaging findings, preferred radiological imaging methods, and biopsy results of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped as benign and malignant according to their pathological diagnosis. Statistical evaluation was made between the benign and malignant groups in terms of parameters. Results The age range of the patients was 16-88 years. Pathology results of 102 patients were reported as malignancy. The most common malignancy was undifferentiated non-keratinized carcinoma (2.5%). The most frequently reported benign pathology was chronic nonspecific inflammation. The most common complaint was nasal congestion, which was observed at a rate of 63.1%. The most frequently requested radiological imaging was MRI with 43.1%. Conclusion The image of the masses found during endoscopic examination is very important to make a decision of malignancy. Even if the repeated biopsy is performed in patients with biopsy due to suspicious mass or with additional symptoms for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, radiological imaging is important for the exclusion of malignancy.

The Detection of Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas Using a Neural Network Based on Nasopharyngoscopic Images

“…In order to differentiate NPC from inflammation or LH, all suspected lesions in the nasopharynx should be noted and biopsied. However, endoscopic biopsies are usually performed in two or three different areas, or repeated two or three times, 24 resulting in a highly subjective process that depends in part on the experience of the otolaryngologists. Multiregional biopsies or repeated biopsies not only increase healthcare costs but also add discomfort to patients.…”