In the histological classification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma , the various opinions have yet to complete reunification. To this end, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed in 1991 can be divided into: keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, non-keratinizing carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma III. Experts agree that the current recommended around the "standardized diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma" in the classification:
1. Carcinoma in situ that occurred in the mucosal lining epithelium, or crypt epithelial lining, full of cancer cells, but not pierced the basement membrane.
2. Microinvasive carcinoma refers to cancer cells worn down early invasive epithelial basement membrane to form. Microinvasive carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in situ can be considered as early lesions.
3. Squamous cell carcinoma is 98% of nasopharyngeal carcinoma originated in the columnar epithelium of squamous cell carcinoma. According to the degree of differentiation of cancer cells can be divided into high, medium and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
4. Nucleate cell carcinoma cell vacuolization see most of the change. Because cancer nests less interstitial fibers, lymphocyte rich, so called "lymphoepithelial carcinoma." Nucleate cell carcinoma development fast, easy descending lymphatic and blood transfer, sensitive to radiation therapy.
5. Undifferentiated carcinoma of the bridge can not find the clear cell and cell keratinization, no glandular structure.
Histological classification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma 6. Adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. Nasopharyngeal mucosa from the small salivary glands or the cancer cells showed a glandular differentiation, with a clear glandular structures. Still shows a small number of bi-directional differentiation of adenosquamous carcinoma. According to the degree of differentiation of cancer cells can be divided into high, medium and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.