Neuro-ophthalmic manifestation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma at Ilorin: a five year review.

BACKGROUND Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) may present with neuro-ophthalmic symptoms including visual loss. Involvement of the cranial nerves have been found to impact significantly on the individual's 5 year survival rate, which makes an early diagnosis of this condition of great importance in the management of NPC. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective review of all patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of NPC over a five year period between 1999 and 2003 was carried out. Information retrieved from the records include their age, symptoms and signs with emphases on neuro-ophthalmic at presentation. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical package. RESULT Twenty records out of the 23 patients with a diagnosis of NPC seen during this period were available for review. The age range was between 20 and 60 years, the Mean was 38.9 years, SD 11.62. Sixty percent of the patients had neuroophthalmic manifestation with symptoms such as ocular pain, double vision, loss of vision and eye protrusion and signs such as ophthalmoplegia, exposure keratopathy and proptosis in various combinations. CONCLUSION Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations were commonly found among patients diagnosed as NPC at Ilorin. A high index of suspicion of NPC whenever a patient presents with neuro-ophthalmic signs and symptom is advocated.