Histopathological classification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

This article reviews all related research and reports on nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) histopathological classifications worldwide. Despite continuous advance of Chinese and international NPC histopathological classification research, it was difficult to unify previous with current China classifications, and the China with World Health Organization (WHO) classifications. For example, non-keratinizing and undifferentiated carcinoma of the WHO NPC classification does not coincide with poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the previous China classification. In addition, the incidence rates of different NPC pathological types show obvious regional discrepancies. It suggested that for facilitating Chinese and international NPC research and exchange, NPC histopathological classifications worldwide should be effectively unified.