Familial Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma 6

ForewordCarcinomas of the nasopharynx represent a relatively uncommon disease process inWestern countries, but are more frequently diagnosed as a head and neck malignancy inSoutheast Asia. Most of these tumors are epithelial in origin. The nonkeratinizing, poorlyor undifferentiated squamous cell carcinomas are the more commonly diagnosedpathologies in Asia, accounting for almost 95% of all cases. However, 75% of cases areWorld Health Organization Type 1 in North America, whereas those in Southeast Asiaare Types 2 and 3. Radiation therapy is the primary treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinomas,and since these tumors tend to present with regional metastasis, combinedchemotherapy and radiation therapy is commonly pursued. This is particularly appropriatein patients who have locally advanced disease.This book, edited by Lu, Cooper, and Lee, discusses the recommendations for diagnosisand staging procedures for nasopharyngeal cancer, staging systems and prognosticfactors, and management using radiation therapy for early-stage disease and combinedtreatment modalities with radiation and cytotoxic chemotherapy for more advanceddisease. The supporting scientific evidence clearly indicates that these are the appropriateapproaches for the treatment of carcinomas of the nasopharynx.The volume also deals in detail with techniques of radiation therapy, including intensity-modulatedradiation therapy, and outlines appropriate follow-up care and surveillancefor those individuals who survive.Even though nasopharyngeal cancer represents a relatively uncommon tumor in theWestern world, it is a common tumor in Southeast Asia and the book by Lu, Cooper, andLee constitutes a landmark volume identifying the appropriate approaches for the managementof this disease process.PA, USAHamburg, GermanyMünich, GermanyBodø, NorwayLuther W. BradyHans-Peter HeilmannMichael MollsCarsten Nieder