What are the sequelae and symptoms caused by radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

What are the sequelae of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy? What are the symptoms?

1. It often occurs in the nasopharyngeal crypts and the anterior wall. The lesions may be nodular, ulcerative, or mucosal infiltrates, and are mostly poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Others may be adenocarcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, etc.

2. Because the primary cancer breaks through the surface mucosa and causes runny nose, the nasal secretions often have blood streaks or blood clots, which is common after getting up in the morning and is one of the early symptoms. When the cancer ulcerates in the late stage, there may be purulent runny nose or a lot of bleeding that is difficult to stop, and it may even be life-threatening. There is no nasal congestion in the early stage. When the cancer blocks the nostrils, it can cause unilateral or bilateral nasal congestion.

3. When cancer of the lateral wall of the nasopharynx or other parts of the nasopharynx expands, blocks or compresses the Eustachian tube, catarrhal otitis media often occurs, leading to tinnitus, ear occlusion and hearing loss, or accompanied by tympanic effusion. Conscious ear symptoms 16.1%.

Common sequelae include:

1. Dry mouth and difficulty opening mouth.

2. Otitis media with effusion.

3. Nosebleed and adhesion of nasopharyngeal membrane.

4. Subcutaneous edema and radiation erysipelas of the face and neck.

5. Gingivitis and tooth loss.

6. Decreased vision and blindness.

7. Brain edema and brain necrosis.

8. Radiation-induced skin damage and soft tissue fibrosis.

9. Radiation-induced cranial nerve damage. The occurrence of sequelae depends on the patient's overall physical condition. If the entire treatment is well tolerated during radiotherapy, there may be no sequelae.