What are the symptoms of nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal tumors?

Under normal circumstances, nasopharyngeal and pharyngolaryngeal tumors—those occurring in the nasal cavity and throat—typically present symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, blood-tinged nasal discharge or sputum, sore throat, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Nasal congestion and runny nose: Early-stage nasopharyngeal or pharyngolaryngeal tumors often cause nasal obstruction, usually affecting one side initially, which may progress to bilateral involvement as the disease advances. Runny nose is also common; it typically begins with clear or mucoid discharge, but may later turn purulent due to tumor irritation or secondary infection.

2. Blood-tinged nasal discharge or sputum: Some patients experience mild epistaxis early in the disease, characterized by small streaks of blood in nasal mucus, particularly noticeable upon waking. When the tumor invades the pharyngeal mucosa, blood may also appear in sputum. The blood is usually bright red or dark red, minimal in amount, but tends to recur frequently.

3. Sore throat: Throat pain is a common symptom. In early stages, it often manifests as a mild, dull ache localized to a specific area. Pain may worsen after consuming spicy or irritating foods or from excessive talking. As the tumor progresses, the pain becomes persistent and severe enough to interfere with normal speech and eating.

4. Hoarseness: When the tumor compresses or invades the vocal cords or recurrent laryngeal nerve, hoarseness occurs. Initially, the voice may become slightly rough or lower in pitch, gradually progressing to marked hoarseness. In severe cases, patients may lose their voice entirely, with symptoms typically worsening progressively over time.

5. Difficulty swallowing: As the tumor grows, it may obstruct the pharyngeal passage, leading to dysphagia. Initially, difficulty is more noticeable when eating solid foods, but eventually even liquids may be hard to swallow. Patients may also experience a sensation of foreign body or blockage during swallowing, significantly affecting normal eating.

In daily life, patients should avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, minimize exposure to dust and irritating gases, and maintain moisture in the nasal and throat areas. A balanced diet rich in vitamins is recommended to support the health of respiratory mucosa.