[Identification of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma using Epstein-Barr virus diagnosis]

We report the case of a 36-year-old women who was found to have a malignant tumor extending from the side of her right nasal cavity to the nasopharynx. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were not able to define the primary site of the tumor. Histologic evaluation demonstrated an undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Because of the different treatment concepts for carcinomas of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, we tried to identify the primary site by diagnosing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which is associated with carcinoma of the nasopharynx. By using immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction EBV could be identified in the cells of the carcinoma. This showed that the primary site of the tumor was located in the nasopharynx and resulted in the patient being treated with simultaneous radiochemotherapy.