[Carcinoma of a nasopharynx. Apropos of 42 cases treated between 1968 and 1977].

As reporting 42 cases of carcinoma of the nasopharynx, the main characteristics of these tumors which are different of the other carcinomas of the head and neck are exposed. In this series, there are 31 men and 11 women with ages between 13 and 75. The diagnosis was late (80% of palpable lymph nodes and 40% with bone invasion or nerve palsy at diagnosis). The radiocurability is good even for big tumors. The actuarial crude survival is 39% at 5 years (50% of local control at 2 years). 40% of the deaths are due to metastatic disease. It seems that in certain cases, a systematic chemotherapy could be useful.