DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2023.v09i06.018

Pages: 650-654

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (UCNT) is a distinct form of head and neck cancer, endemic in the North African zone, with its high metastatic potential and its relationship with the Epstein-Barr virus. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical and therapeutic aspects of this carcinoma in young adults under 40 years of age. We carried out a retrospective study in the Department of Radiation Oncology between December 2006 and December 2019 with a follow-up of at least 24 months, treatments were based on inducing chemotherapy followed by chemo-radiation depending on the clinical stage (TNM). Of all UCNT patients treated, 75 were Aged under 40 (34.56%), and the median age was 24 years. The diagnosis is often late revealing symptomatology dominated by cervical lymph nodes, and stage IV disease was dominant. Treatment was based on neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concomitant radio-chemotherapy in all our patients, Evolution was favorable in 52% of our patients, 13% had a locoregional recurrence, and 16% had distant metastases. Bad prognosis of UCNT is often related to locally advanced stages (stage III and IV) and metastatic recurrence. Therefore, assessing early diagnosis improves its outcome in the young population. Recent radiation technics such as IMRT and VMAT reduce treatment-related toxicity and lead to a better quality of life.