Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy: Patient selection and surgical execution

Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma continues to be a problematic entity in terms of management. Treatment options include reirradiation, open surgical resection, and more recently, endoscopic nasopharyngectomy. Patient selection is the most important factor when planning endoscopic approaches, and the surgeon must consider a variety of patient and disease factors. Generally speaking, most patients with rT1 or rT2 tumors and some patients with rT3 tumors can be considered for endoscopic nasopharyngectomy. Although surgical techniques may vary, there are certain key elements common to all endoscopic approaches. With accurate patient selection and appropriate surgical execution, patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be successfully managed endoscopically.