Establishment of Endoscopic Surgical Innovative System of Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor in China. Radiotherapy is the first-line treatment. After appropriate radiotherapy, about 5%-15% patients experience recurrence. In view of the poor efficacy and high incidence of severe late toxicities associated with re-irradiation, salvage surgery by the transnasal endoscopic approach is recommended for recurrent NPC (rNPC). Compared with re-irradiation, endoscopic surgery can better prolong survival, improve the quality of life, and reduce complications and medical expenses of patients with rNPC. However, the complexity of the nasopharyngeal skull base enhances the difficulty and risk of surgery. Expanding the boundary of surgical resection remains a clinical challenge for otolaryngologists. In this regard, to help more advanced patients with rNPC, the surgical innovative system of NPC needs to be established by multi-disciplinary cooperation, involving skull base anatomy-based investigation, appropriate administration of the internal carotid artery (ICA), repair of skull base defect, and establishment of various types of endoscopic endonasal nasopharyngectomy.