Diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer
You usually start by seeing your GP. If they think your symptoms could be linked to cancer, they will refer you to a specialist doctor. You will usually see a specialist within 2 weeks. You may see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
If your only symptom is a lump in your neck, you may be referred to a hospital that has a neck lump clinic.
The specialist doctor will ask about your symptoms and general health.
You may have some of the following tests.
Nasendoscopy
A nasendoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end. It allows your doctor to look inside your nose, the back of your nose and your throat.
Biopsy
To make a diagnosis your doctor needs to remove a small piece of tissue or some cells (biopsy) from the area that looks abnormal. Your doctor may take a biopsy while they are examining you with the nasendoscope. Or they might arrange for you to have a general anaesthetic to take the biopsy.
A doctor who specialises in analysing cells (pathologist) looks at the sample under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Ultrasound scan of the neck
If you have a lump or a swelling in your neck you usually have an ultrasound scan of the area. This uses soundwaves to produce a picture of your neck and nearby lymph nodes.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the lymph nodes
You may have a fine needle aspiration test to see whether there are any cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the neck. The doctor passes a fine needle into the lump. They withdraw (aspirate) some cells into the syringe. Sometimes they use an ultrasound scan to help the doctor to guide the needle into the correct area.
We have more information about tests for head and neck cancer.
Further tests for nasopharyngeal cancer
Your specialist may arrange further tests. These may help diagnose nasopharyngeal cancer or be used to check the size of the cancer and whether it has spread (staging).
-
CT scan
A CT scan takes a series of x-rays, which build up a three-dimensional (3D) picture of the head and neck.
-
MRI scan
An MRI scan ses magnetism to build up a detailed picture of the head and neck.
-
PET-CT scan
A PET-CT scan gives more detailed information about the part of the body being scanned.
-
Testing for the Epstein-Barrvirus (EBV)
If you have nasopharyngeal cancer, you may have tests on the cancer cells to see if it is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This virus causes glandular fever. Almost everyone is infected with EBV at some time during their life. The body’s immune system is normally able to get rid of the virus, and usually the infections do not cause any problems.
Only a very small number of people who have had EBV develop nasopharyngeal cancer. Most people with EBV will not develop nasopharyngeal cancer.
Waiting for test results can be a difficult time. We have more information that can help.
Related pages
- Cancer tests and waiting for results
- Just been diagnosed?
