CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS OF PATIENTS WITH NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA IN WEST NUSA TENGGARA HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common cancer in the head and neck. NPC is a malignancy of squamous cell on nasopharyngeal epithelial with the most common predilection site in rosenmuller fossa. Theetiology of this disease are multifactorial. A low oral hygiene on naso-oro-hypopharyngeal/laryngeal wall, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetic/hereditary factors, exposure to radiation, nutritional, deficiencies or decreased imune system are recognized as a risk factors. The study aim is to find out a characteristic of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their risk factors in the west Nusa Tenggara Hospital in September-October 2018. Methods The study design was descriptive–cross sectional. The research subjects were NPC patients who came to the West Nusa Tenggara Hospital ENT-HNS Clinic, in the period September-October 2018. Results There were 37 patients enroled to this study. According to this study, the most patients found in age group 46 to 55 years (35.1%), predominantly men (67.6%) with the men and women ratio 2.5: 1. Based on patients origin, they come from all districts in west Nusa Tenggara province, with the most districts found in West Lombok (29.7%). The most risk factors were food factors (food preservative 19.9%, food flavoring 19.9%, salted fish 15.6% carcinogenic (grilled food) 6.5%), and environmental factors (cigarettes 11.3%, smoke 4.8 % and 4.8% dust). Conculsion There were several risk factors found in this study, however, the most risk factor was food factors (61.9%) followed by environmental factors (20.9%).