Advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most familiar cancer originating in the nasopharynx, and not uncommonly found in the head and neck region in adults. Under appropriate and effective treatment, the outcome subsequent to medical intervention can be relatively good in adults with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, NPC is very uncommon in children younger than 10 years, and its incidence increases gradually with patient age. In general, NPC may be more aggressive in character, with frequent distant metastasis while initial diagnosis in children. We reported the case of a 12-year-old girl with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, who was refractory to multiple chemotherapy regimens. We herein have provided a summary review of the literature regarding the incidence, characteristics, treatment and outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children, in the hopes of encouraging further investigations that will create additional treatment options for those who suffer NPR at any age.