Histopathologic Types and EBV Prevalence in Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas of Koreans

한국인 코인두암종의 조직병리학적 유형 및 EBV 출현율

  • Hwang, Jeong-Eun (Department of Pathology,Mizmedi Women's Hospital) ;
  • Jung, Min-Jung (Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center) ;
  • Roh, Jong-Lyel (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center) ;
  • Choi, Seung-Ho (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center) ;
  • Nam, Soon-Yuhl (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center) ;
  • Kim, Sang-Yoon (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center) ;
  • Cho, Kyung-Ja (Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medidal Center)
  • 황정은 (강서미즈메디병원 병리과) ;
  • 정민정 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 병리과) ;
  • 노종렬 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 최승호 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 남순열 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 김상윤 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 조경자 (울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 병리과)
  • Received : 2011.12.30
  • Accepted : 2012.04.26
  • Published : 2012.05.25

Abstract

Background and Objectives : Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) shows a distinct geographic and demographic distribution with high incidences in Chinese and Southeast Asians. Current WHO classification divides NPC into nonkeratinizing carcinoma(NKC)(differentiated and undifferentiated subtypes), keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma(KSCC), and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma(BSCC). Relative frequency of histologic subtypes of NPC is known to vary according to the incidence of NPC. Korea is one of the low-incidence countries according to the GLOBOCAN 2008 database by IARC. The aim of this study is to assess the histopathologic types and EBV status of NPC of Koreans. Materials and Methods : We reviewed and reclassified 168 cases of NPC(132 males and 36 females) diagnosed from January 1996 through July 2006. In situ hybridization for EBV-encoded early RNA(EBER) was performed on 146 cases and the results were compared among different histologic types, genders, and age and stage groups. Results : NKC, undifferentiated subtype(NKC-U) was identified in 106 cases(63.1%) and differentiated subtype(NKC-D) in 49 cases(29.2%). Remaining 13 cases(7.7%) were classified as KSCC. NKC and NKC-U were more common in females than in males. EBV prevalence was higher in NKC than in KSCC(NKC-U, 90% ;, NKC-D, 84.1% ; KSCC, 7.7%) and more common in younger age(${\leq}40$) than older age(>40) group. Conclusion : Histologic type distribution and EBV prevalence of NPC in Korean patients corresponded to that of intermediate incidence area. Pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal KSCC is assumed to be different from that of NKC.

Keywords

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