Techniques of endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for localized stage I nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic surgery was widely applied as radical treatment for early cancer. We aimed to demonstrate the details of endoscopic nasopharyngectomy (ENPG) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Before operation, we first defined the gross tumor volume (GTV) and surgical tumor volume (STV) for resection. STV was defined as gross tumor volume plus an additional 0.5-1.0 cm peripheral mucosa margin and a 2-3 mm basal margin on the surface skull base. The surgeon was required to follow this planned STV to remove the tumor. RESULTS: En bloc resection was achieved in the endoscopic operation, and multiple margin biopsies were proved pathologically negative. Comparison between preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed that actual STV (aSTV) had contained the STV completely. Mostly, no death, recurrence, or distant metastasis was observed in this case during the 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Techniques of ENPG for treating newly diagnosed localized stage I NPC patients were feasible.