Nasopharyngeal Oncology Treatment

Each year, around 350,000 people worldwide die from head and neck tumors. Yet there’s good news: in the absence of distant metastases, many patients can achieve full recovery.

Nasopharyngeal cancer refers to a group of malignant tumors originating in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and upper digestive tract. This includes the oral cavity, pharynx or oropharynx (including the base of the tongue and tonsils), upper trachea (larynx), nasopharynx, nasal cavity and sinuses, as well as tumors of the salivary glands.

The most common type in this group is squamous cell carcinoma.

Men over 50 are at the highest risk, with a strong correlation between disease incidence and smoking or alcohol use. In recent decades, an additional risk factor in Western countries (especially the U.S. and Europe) has emerged — the human papillomavirus (HPV). This form of cancer is more common in non-smoking men aged 30–50.

Symptoms depend on tumor location:

• Vocal cord tumors often present as persistent hoarseness, especially in smokers.

• Pharyngeal or laryngeal tumors may cause difficulty or pain while swallowing, a foreign body sensation, or referred ear pain.

• A non-healing sore or ulcer on the tongue may indicate tongue cancer.

• Nasopharyngeal tumors may cause hearing loss or middle ear inflammation.

• Tumors in the nasal cavity or sinuses can lead to nasal congestion, nosebleeds, exophthalmos (eye protrusion), and vision impairment.

In some cases, tumors are discovered only after spreading to cervical lymph nodes. Still, if distant metastases are absent, nasopharyngeal cancer without queues is treatable with a high chance of cure.

Patients with suspected cancer undergo a thorough evaluation, including nasal endoscopy using a fiber-optic tube.

Diagnosis is confirmed via biopsy and advanced imaging — PET-CT, CT, and MRI — to assess disease stage and extent.

At Ichilov, treatment planning is highly personalized and based on tumor location, disease stage, comorbidities, and patient condition. Preferences of the patient are also considered.

A multidisciplinary tumor board — including an oncologist, radiation oncologist, ENT/head and neck surgeon, plastic surgeon, maxillofacial surgeon, radiologist, and pathologist — designs the treatment protocol.

Treatment options include:

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is used as a primary treatment, often combined with chemotherapy, or as adjuvant therapy after surgery.

• Delivered via linear accelerators using high-energy X-rays or photons

• Administered in daily sessions (fractions), five days per week for 6–7 weeks

• Requires precise planning through CT-based simulation

• Custom-fitted immobilization masks are used for accuracy

Dental evaluation and necessary extractions are performed prior to radiation to avoid complications.

Chemotherapy and Biological Therapy

Chemotherapy may be used before surgery or radiation to shrink tumors and improve local treatment outcomes. In many cases, surgery is replaced by radiation combined with chemotherapy to enhance effectiveness.

In patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer, treatment relies on systemic chemotherapy and biological agents. Clinical trials in nasopharyngeal oncology in Israel are ongoing, exploring advanced biologics for late-stage head and neck cancer.

Surgical Treatment

Ichilov’s Head and Neck Surgery and ENT departments have extensive experience in performing complex tumor resections.

Patients seeking nasopharyngeal tumor treatment without queues or delays can contact the international department at Ichilov:

• Email: medtour@tlvmc.gov.il

• Or fill out a request form on this page

Within 24 to 48 hours, your case will be reviewed by Ichilov’s doctors. You’ll receive a detailed response on treatment feasibility and a preliminary quote — allowing you to plan your visit with confidence and transparency.

This approach ensures that you treat nasopharyngeal tumor without waiting, avoid unnecessary procedures upon arrival, and significantly reduce treatment time and expenses.