Table 1 The frequency and the sites of tumor invasion identified by magnetic resonance imaging in 229 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)
Anatomical site | No. of patients (%) |
|---|---|
Skull base involvement | 162 (70.7) |
Clivus | 140 (61.1) |
Basis of sphenoid bone | 135 (59.0) |
Petrous apex | 120 (52.4) |
Pterygoid process | 114 (49.7) |
Foramen lacerum | 91 (40.0) |
Great wing of sphenoid bone | 59 (25.8) |
Paranasal sinus | 45 (19.7) |
Foramen ovale | 32 (13.9) |
Pterygopalatine fossa | 30 (13.1) |
Jugular foramen | 21 (9.7) |
Hypoglossal canal | 15 (6.5) |
External auditory canal | 6 (2.6) |
Soft tissue involvement | 147 (64.2) |
Parapharyngeal space | 114 (49.8) |
Oropharynx | 27 (11.8) |
Nasal cavity | 23 (10.4) |
Prevertebral muscle | 21 (9.2) |
Masticator space | 18 (7.9) |
Intracranial invasion | 74 (32.3) |
Cavernous sinus | 71 (31.0) |
Retroclival space | 11 (4.8) |
Orbital apex | 11 (4.8) |