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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Patient Data

Age: Adult
mri

MRI through the nasopharynx and base of skull of an Asian patient including contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed sequences demonstrates a large nasopharyngeal mass invading the cavernous sinuses (especially on the left), clivus and pterygopalatine fossa. Large right-sided lymph nodes are present.

Case Discussion

Features are consistent with a nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which was confirmed on biopsy.

Histology

Both biopsies show similar features, with invasive poorly differentiated non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma involving fragments of soft tissue and bone. The tumor is positive for EBV by in situ hybridization for EBER.

EBV is highly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

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