All malignant tumors arising in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx.- M > F - Nasopharyngeal cancer is rare in the United States; most common in Mediterranean and Chinese patients

Risk factors: Tobacco, alcohol, poor oral hygiene, exposure to radiation

Associations:- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: EBV infection- Oropharyngeal carcinoma: human papillomavirus infection- Diseases causing atrophy of the mucosa (eg, Plummer-Vinson syndrome)

Clinial presentation:- First manifestation often swollen cervical lymph node(s)Nasopharyngeal cancer:- Painless lymphadenopathy- Obstruction of the Eustachian tube: recurrent otitis media; conductive hearing loss- Discharge, nosebleeds, impaired nasal breathingOropharyngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer:- Severe ear pain- Foreign body sensation, dysphagia, sore throat- Muffled voice

Diagnosis:- Panendoscopy with biopsy and histopathological examination (confirmatory test): determines type, grade, and extent of the tumor- CT or MRI imaging

3 Subtypes:1. Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma2. Non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma3. Undifferentiated squamous cell carinoma

Treatment: Combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy