[Serum beta 2-microglobulin determination in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. An analysis of 139 cases]

Serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) was determined in normal adults, patients with chronic nasopharyngeal inflammation and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by the radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean value in normal adults was 2023.85 +/- 454.32 micrograms/L, that in patients with chronic nasopharyngeal inflammation was 3294.65 +/- 1320.89 micrograms/L. The mean value in patients with NPC was significantly higher than those in patients with chronic nasopharyngeal inflammation and normal adults (P < 0.01). But there was not significant difference between mean values of patients with chronic nasopharyngeal inflammation and normal adults (P > 0.05). It is suggested that the RIA of beta 2-M is a useful assay in the diagnosis of NPC.