Narrow band imaging of nasopharynx to identify specific features for possible detection of early nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Narrow band imaging (NBI) features of normal and early nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have not been clearly described. The main purpose of this study was to define NBI features in the nasopharynx in the detection of early NPC. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 53 patients who underwent NBI endoscopy to describe its specific features. RESULTS Among 19 normal patients, common NBI features were discrete brown spots (100%) and regular polygonal follicular pattern of nasopharyngeal mucosa (90%). The features of 15 patients with NPC were loss of normal polygonal follicular architecture of nasopharynx (100%), concentrated brown spots (93%), and pale pink areas (80%). In the 19 post-NPC radiation patients, common features were patches of intense brown-green spots (100%), loss of polygonal follicular pattern of nasopharyngeal mucosa (95%), and discrete microvasculature branches (95%). CONCLUSION There are discernible NBI features between normal mucosa and an exophytic NPC mass. This can form the basis of a prospective screening program to detect early NPC using NBI.