If a eustachian tube is blocked, fluid may accumulate in the middle ear. A person also may have ear pain, a swollen face, a discharge of pus and blood from the nose, swollen lymph nodes Swollen Lymph Nodes Lymph nodes are tiny, bean-shaped organs that filter lymph fluid.
They are located throughout the body, but particular collections are found just under the skin in the neck, under the arms, Part of the face or an eye may become paralyzed.
To diagnose nasopharyngeal cancer, a doctor first examines the nasopharynx with a special mirror or flexible viewing tube endoscope. If a tumor is found, a doctor does a biopsy of the tumor, in which a sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.
Computed tomography Computed Tomography CT In computed tomography CT , which used to be called computed axial tomography CAT , an x-ray source and x-ray detector rotate around a person. In modern scanners, the x-ray detector usually MRI does not use x-rays and is usually very safe A radionuclide is a radioactive form of an element, which means it is an unstable atom that becomes more stable by releasing Early treatment improves the prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer significantly.
In nasopharyngeal cancer, the tumor is treated with radiation therapy Radiation Therapy for Cancer Radiation is a form of intense energy generated by a radioactive substance, such as cobalt, or by specialized equipment, such as an atomic particle linear accelerator. Radiation preferentially Although an ideal drug would destroy cancer cells without harming normal cells, most drugs are not that selective.
Instead, drugs If you have hoarseness, a sore throat, ear pain or any of the symptoms above and are concerned about cancer, schedule a visit with your doctor or dentist. Many of these symptoms are related to other conditions or may be completely normal on their own. However, if your doctor shares your concern about cancer, you may be referred to a specialist called an otolaryngologist for a more thorough examination and workup.
Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. This page was updated on September 21, Head and neck cancer symptoms. Common symptoms of head and neck cancer tumors include: A lump in the nose, neck or throat, with or without pain A persistent sore throat Trouble swallowing dysphagia Unexplained weight loss Frequent coughing Change in voice or hoarseness Ear pain or trouble hearing Headaches A red or white patch in the mouth Bad breath that's unexplained by hygiene Nasal obstruction or persistent congestion Frequent nose bleeds or unusual discharge Trouble breathing Head and neck cancers typically begin in the squamous cells that line the moist surfaces inside the head and neck.
The sites where head and neck cancers may develop are broken into five areas: Nasal cavity the inside of the nose and paranasal sinuses spaces in bones around the nose Oral cavity the mouth Salivary glands located under the tongue Pharynx the throat Larynx situated below the pharynx and used for swallowing and talking When it comes to specific head and neck cancers, these include: Hypopharyngeal cancer Laryngeal cancer Lip and oral cavity cancer Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary Nasopharyngeal cancer Oropharyngeal cancer Paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer Salivary gland cancer Symptoms of head and neck cancers depend on where the cancer starts and its unique risk factors.
Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer symptoms The nose opens into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two passages.
Salivary gland cancer symptoms Salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. There are three major salivary glands: Parotid glands in front of and just below each ear Sublingual glands under the tongue Submandibular glands below the jawbone Symptoms for this type of cancer may include: Painless lump in your ear, cheek, jaw, lip or inside of the mouth Fluid draining from your ear Trouble swallowing or opening mouth wide Numbness or weakness in your face Persistent pain in your face.
Pharynx-related cancer symptoms The pharynx, or throat, starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus. In general, pharynx-related cancers may cause symptoms such as: Difficulty breathing or speaking Painful swallowing Pain in your ears, neck or throat Ringing in the ears Hearing difficulties Frequent headaches The pharynx consists of three main sections, and symptoms often involve more than one area of the head or neck.
Serious Complications of Acoustic Neuroma If untreated, an acoustic neuroma can grow large enough to cause pressure on the brain stem. Watch the webinar. Acoustic Neuromas in Children Although they are more common in adults, acoustic neuromas can occur in children and teens, and may grow large before they are diagnosed. Acoustic Neuroma Vestibular Schwannoma Diagnosis Because symptoms of these tumors resemble those of other middle and inner ear conditions, they may be difficult to diagnose.
Acoustic neuroma diagnosis includes: Hearing test audiometry. This is a test of hearing function that measures how well you hear sounds and speech. It is usually the first test performed to diagnose acoustic neuroma. A doctor asks you to listen to sounds and speech while you are wearing earphones attached to a machine that records responses and measures hearing function. If you have an acoustic neuroma, your audiogram may show the following.
Increased pure tone average PTA. This metric evaluates how loud a sound frequency needs to be before you hear it. Increased speech reception threshold SRT. This metric evaluates how loud speech needs to be before you hear it. Similar to pure tone average, the higher the score, the worse the hearing. Decreased speech discrimination SD. This metric evaluates how many words you can detect, one ear at a time.
The lower the score, the worse the hearing. Imaging scans of the head. If other tests point to a possibility of acoustic neuroma, MRI can confirm the diagnosis. MRI with a contrast dye can help pinpoint the tumor. If an acoustic neuroma is present, it will soak up more dye than normal brain tissue and appear clearly on the scan. MRI commonly shows a densely "enhancing" bright tumor in the internal auditory canal. Are acoustic neuromas hereditary? Acoustic Neuroma Treatment After a diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma, the doctor will determine the best plan of action.
The options include the following: Surgery to remove the tumor. This is a highly effective treatment for acoustic neuromas. Hearing loss that has already occurred from the tumor cannot be reversed, but the remaining hearing can be preserved in some cases.
Surgical tumor removal can often address balance problems, facial numbness and other symptoms. Stereotactic radiosurgery. This form of radiation therapy delivers precisely targeted radiation to the tumor while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue. Radiation does not cause the tumor to go away. Rather, the goal is to stop or slow the growth. Typically, radiation therapy is not recommended for young patients and those with larger tumors.
This means waiting and watching, and it can be an option for some patients with acoustic neuroma. Because acoustic neuromas are usually slow growing, immediate intervention is not always necessary. Acoustic Neuroma Observation Acoustic neuromas are noncancerous tumors, so they can often be closely monitored without treatment.
Acoustic Neuroma Surgery Modern microsurgical advancements have made acoustic neuroma surgery procedures safer, more effective and easier to recover from. Suboccipital or retrosigmoid craniotomy. During this procedure, the surgeon accesses the acoustic neuroma from the back of the head.
It offers the best view of the brainstem, particularly for the nerves involved in swallowing, which can be affected if a tumor is large. This approach is often recommended for patients with larger tumors. It also might preserve hearing for patients with smaller tumors, because the inner ear structures are preserved.
Translabyrinthine craniotomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the bone behind the ear to access the tumor through the inner ear. This provides the best view of the entire length of the facial nerve and can require less retraction of the brain. However, it requires going through the structures of the inner ear and does not allow preservation of hearing. This approach is generally considered for patients who have no functional hearing.
Middle fossa craniotomy. This is an option for patients with smaller acoustic neuromas and intact hearing. It is generally considered to provide the greatest chance of hearing preservation, but there is a slightly greater risk of facial nerve weakness after the surgery, and it cannot be performed for medium or large size tumors.
Image Guidance and Monitoring During Acoustic Neuroma Surgery Monitoring of brain and nerve function is a critical part of acoustic neuroma surgery. Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Acoustic Neuroma Radiosurgery , also called stereotactic radiosurgery, is a noninvasive procedure that uses precisely focused, narrow beams of radiation to treat the acoustic neuroma while limiting the amount of radiation that affects surrounding structures, including the hearing, balance and facial nerves.
Other types of cancer of the ear canal, middle or inner ear include:. The stage tells you how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Developing a staging system is difficult when there are not many people with the cancer. There are different staging systems for cancer of the ear. Working out the stage of the cancer helps your doctor to decide about treatment. Generally an early stage cancer is small and within the area it started in. One that is slightly more advanced has grown into the surrounding structures.
The main treatments for middle or inner ear cancers are surgery and radiotherapy. You might also have chemotherapy. Read about treatment decisions and what treatment involves.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them. Most cancers of the outer ear are skin cancers. Read about the symptoms, types, stages and tests for outer ear cancer.
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