Pediatric Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma as Seen on 18F-FDG PET/CT
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Razi Muzaffar; Francesca Vacca; Huazhang Guo; Rishi Mhapsekar; Medhat M. Osman
- Source
- Frontiers in Oncology, Vol 9 (2019)
- Subject
- pediatrics
nasopharyngeal carcinoma
PET/CT
FDG
Epstein-Barr virus
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
RC254-282
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2234-943X
Pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare malignancy strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Patients typically present with non-specific symptoms of epistaxis or serous otitis from eustachian tube obstruction and therefore diagnosis is often delayed. We present a case of a previously healthy 17 year old female who initially complained of migraines which was resistant to oral medication. Symptoms progressed and she saw a dental surgeon for concern of a dental infection and was prescribed antibiotics with no relief. Her symptoms continued to progress until an otolaryngologist visualized a large mass along the floor of the left nasal cavity. Subsequent imaging showed a large mass in the posterior left nasal cavity and biopsy was consistent with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.