What is nasopharyngeal cancer?

Nasopharyngeal cancer starts in the cells of the nasopharynx, which is part of the throat (pharynx). A cancerous (malignant) tumour is a group of cancer cells that can grow into and destroy nearby tissue. It can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

The pharynx is part of the digestive and respiratory systems. It is divided into 3 parts. The nasopharynx is the top part, located behind the nose. The oropharynx is the middle part. The hypopharynx is the bottom part.

Cells in the nasopharynx sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to non-cancerous (benign) tumours such as angiofibroma or hemangioma.

But in some cases, changes to nasopharyngeal cells can cause nasopharyngeal cancer. Most often, nasopharyngeal cancer starts in the epithelial cells that line the inside of the nasopharynx. This type of cancer is called nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Rare types of nasopharyngeal cancer can also develop. These include nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma and minor salivary gland carcinoma.

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Nasopharyngeal Cancer. 2015. https://www.cancer.org/.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Nasopharyngeal Cancer. 2016.
  • National Cancer Institute. Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version. 2015. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Ng WT, Ngan RKC, Chan SH, et al. Management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Bernier J (ed.). Head and Neck Cancer: Multimodality Management. Springer; 2016: 26: 445 - 473.

The pharynx

The pharynx, commonly called the throat, is part of the digestive and respiratory systems. The pharynx is part of the head and neck.

Cancerous tumours of the nasopharynx

A cancerous tumour of the nasopharynx can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.

Non-cancerous tumours of the nasopharynx

Non-cancerous tumours and conditions are not cancer. They may also be called benign tumours or conditions.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.


1-888-939-3333 | cancer.ca | © 2024 Canadian Cancer Society