[Schmincke carcinoma of the nasopharynx (author's transl)]

92 patients suffering from malignant nasopharynx tumors have been examined. They were classified according to their histological diagnosis and compared in point of view clinical particularity and prognosis. The lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is the most common malignant tumor of this organ. It differs clearly in its clinical behaviour from all other tumors of the nasopharynx. Particularly striking is the early and - apart from rare exeptions - regular involvement of the regional neck lymphnodes. This fact allows an early recognition of the small primary tumor - with its consealed site and poor clinical symptoms - and improves consequently the 3-year-survival-rate of the LEC decisively. By combination of radiological and surgical treatment of the involved neck lymphnodes, the prognosis of the LEC can be further improved. Following our own findings and recent results from the tumor virus research we want to point out that LEC has to be considered as a special disease with its proper etiology and clinical appearance.