Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Plateau State, Nigeria: a pathological study

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in Central Nigeria where it represents 1.7% of all cancers. The prevalence rate is 4 per 100,000 and the male: female ratio is 2:1. Most tumours occur on the left side than the right (4:1) and the mean age at the time of presentation is 44.4 years. Undifferentiated and non-keratinizing carcinomas represent 60% of cases, while well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 40%.