Biopsy of the nasopharynx as a staging procedure in Hodgkin's disease

Biopsy of the nasopharynx was perfomred in 45 patients with Hodgkin's disease as part of the pretherapeutic staging. Seven of the 45 (16%) had microscopic abnormalities in the nasopharynx compatible with Hodgkin's disease. Such abnormalities occurred even in the absence of local ENT-symptoms or signs, and they could not be predicted from the microscopic type of lymph node biopsy, stage of disease or general presentation. A generous biopsy of the nasopharynx is recommended to be included in the staging procedures in Hodgkin's disease.