[Descriptive study of cancer of the cavum, particularly epidermoid carcinoma (1)]

The medical records of the 60 patients (between 4,600 computerized records) with carcinoma of the nasopharynx were reviewed. All patients were treated at "Ramón y Cajal Hospital" (Serv. of Radiotherapy and Otorhinolaryngology) between 1966 and 1981 and had a minimum follow-up period of five years following completion of radiotherapy. 43 cases of the epidermoid carcinoma (including lymphoepithelioma) and 14 cases of non epidermoid carcinoma were reviewed; 3 cases were excluded because the patient did not follow-up. The ratio males/females was 2.2/1; their ages ranged from 14 to 81 years (average age: males 50 years and females 58.5 years). The % cases/stage were as follows: I, 0%; II, 7%; III, 9% and IV, 84%. The initial presentation was manifested in 40% by cervical adenopathy, hearing loss and/or otalgia 28%, nasal obstruction 26% and epistasis 6%. The mean interval from onset of symptoms until initial patient evaluation was 10 months (67%, 1st y.; 23%, 2nd y. and 10%, 3rd y.).