No abstract

Aim: Evaluation of nasopharyngeal punch biopsy results due to malignancy suspicion. Material and Method: In total, 491 patients (231 females 260 males; average age 36.72±16.91 years; range 16-90 years) were included in the present study. All patients' files were evaluated in terms of age, gender, the reason and the results of biopsy. Results: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was diagnosed in 21 patients (4.2%) as a result of nasopharyngeal punch biopsies performed due to malignancy suspicion and exclusion. Results of pathological evaluation of other patients; 454 benign pathologies (lymphoid hyperplasia, chronic lymphoid process, Tornwald cyst) (92.05%), 12 insufficient materials (2.44%) and 4 granulomatous diseases (0.8%), respectively. The mean age of patients with malignancy was statistically significantly higher than those with benign pathology (p=0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in the gender distribution of malignant and benign cases (p=0.077). Conclusion: Taking punch biopsies containing mucosa and submucosa will provide the early diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, in spite of the absence of a mass on endoscopic examination.