Abstract :
Background: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is the most frequently encountered malignancy amongst the neoplasms
of nasopharynx. In India, NPC is uncommon in most regions, but high prevalence is observed in North-eastern part of the
country. The National Cancer Registry has reported the prevalence of NPC to be 1.82% among all cancers in this region,
constituting the eighth most common cancer in the North-eastern states. Methods: Newly diagnosed cases of NPC were
studied for a period of 3 years in an institute in Manipur. The origin of the patient (hill or valley) were identified, dietary
addiction, clinical presentations, histopathological types and stage at presentation were studied and analysed in the two
regions. Results: The study consisted 121 cases of diagnosed NPC, consisting of higher numbers of males then females,
making a ratio of 1.95:1. Mean age of the patients was 46±12.34. 74.4% originated from hills and 25.6% from valleys.
Consumption of smoked meat comprised 77.7% and was seen more in hilly areas with strong statistical significance.
Addiction to smoking, alcohol and smokeless tobacco was seen more among valley patients. Swelling neck was the
commonest clinical presentation (93.4%), followed by nasal symptoms (63.6%), auricular features (34.7%), cranio-facial
pain (34.7%) and neurological symptoms (12.4%), with greater percentage among hilly populations. Undifferentiated
carcinoma was the commonest histological type (73.6%), followed by Non-keratinizing carcinoma (20.7%) and keratinizing
squamous cell carcinoma (5.8%). Commonest stage at presentation was stage 4 (38.8%). Conclusion: There is a marked
significant difference in the incidence of NPC among the different populations of hills and the valleys. A detailed study of
genetic and immuno-histochemical analysis of NPC between the two groups of origin in this part of the country is a
necessity.
Keyword :
Clinico-pathological presentation, Incidence, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.