Frontiers in Oncology (Mar 2019)

Pediatric Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma as Seen on 18F-FDG PET/CT

  • Razi Muzaffar,
  • Francesca Vacca,
  • Huazhang Guo,
  • Rishi Mhapsekar,
  • Medhat M. Osman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2019.00110
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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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.

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