Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Computed tomographic imaging of four cases.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma occurs with great frequency in Asia. It is an infiltrative tumor that often produces no symptoms early in its course. However, the proximity of the nasopharynx to the nasal cavity, eustachian tubes, masticatory muscles, and cranial nerves can allow extension of the lesion into these structures, resulting in numerous maxillofacial abnormalities. Computed tomography is effective in imaging the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the nasopharynx as well as the subsequent spread of the neoplasm to adjacent areas. Four cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are presented in which computed tomography provides an accurate assessment of the extent of the tumor and allows correlation with clinical manifestations.