Stage 4A of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mainly staged according to the primary tumor (T), lymph node metastasis (N) and distant metastasis (M) of the tumor, which is T0~3N3M0 or T4N0~3M0.
1. T0~3N3M0 situation
(1) T0 is when the tumor is found but the EBV test is positive and there are cervical metastatic lymph nodes; T1 is when the tumor is confined to the nasopharynx or invades the nasal cavity or oropharynx; T2 is when the tumor invades the parapharyngeal space with or without adjacent soft tissue involvement; T3 is when the tumor leads to invasion of the bone structure of the base of the skull, the cervical vertebrae, the paranasal sinuses and other structures.
(2) N3 is the presence of lymph node metastasis in the neck, and the diameter of the largest metastatic lymph node can be greater than 6 cm.
(3) M0 means no distant metastasis.
2. T4N0~3M0 cases
(1) T4 means that the tumor invades the intracranial area and is accompanied by extensive soft tissue involvement of the cerebral nerves, orbits, parotid glands and other areas.
(2) N0 is the absence of regional lymph node metastasis; N1 is the presence of unilateral lymph node metastasis in the neck or posterior pharynx, with the largest diameter less than 6 cm, and all of them are located in the area above the cricoid cartilage of the trachea; N2 is the presence of lymph node metastasis in the neck bilaterally, and the other cases are the same as the former; N3 is the presence of lymph node metastasis in the neck, and the diameter of the largest metastatic lymph node can be larger than 6 cm.
(3) M0 means no distant metastasis.
Stage 4A nasopharyngeal cancer is usually more serious and belongs to middle and late stage nasopharyngeal cancer, it is recommended that the corresponding groups of people should consult the doctor and take active treatment under the doctor’s guidance.