Can nasopharyngeal cancer cause persistent coughing?
Disease description:
I was recently diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. Lately, I've been experiencing frequent coughing and am unsure whether it's caused by this condition. Could you tell me if nasopharyngeal cancer can cause persistent coughing?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma generally presents with persistent cough. Irritative dry cough may occur when tumor secretions enter the pharynx through the nasal passages, although this symptom is seen only in a very small number of patients. In addition, in some patients, nasopharyngeal carcinoma manifests as ulcerative growth, which may lead to blood-tinged sputum when bleeding occurs. If symptoms such as cough, sputum production, hemoptysis, chest tightness, or shortness of breath are present in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, pulmonary infection can be ruled out.
