ORIGINAL ARTICLES Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Childhood: Evidence of a Malfunctioning Oncology Ecosystem: A Case Series from a Low Resource Setting

West Afr J Med . 2023 Jun 29;40(6):619-622.

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) refers to malignancy arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. It is a rare tumor globally but seen in higher prevalence in certain populations associated with the endemicity of Epstein- Barr Virus. It is usually seen in clinical settings in developing countries in late stages majorly due to poor health-seeking behavior, healthcare costs, and misdiagnosis arising from its vague and ambiguous symptoms. The outcome of NPC depends strongly on the stage at diagnosis and access to the right treatment which may prove challenging in low-resource settings where care is paid for out of pocket. We report three cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, its presentation, and a brief review of the literature on its epidemiology, histologic types, and outcomes in the peadiatric population.

Keywords: Low resource setting; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Paediatric,.

U O Fakile ¹, A M Akinsete ^2 3, A O Joseph ⁴, T O Fashola ³, T A Oladipo ³, A Akinsulie ^2 3