OCULAR TRIGEMINAL INVOLVEMENT IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

300 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were examined by the authors. 114 out of 300 cases (38%) had neuro-ophthalmological involvement. 35 cases showed only a single cranial nerve involvement. The fifth and sixth nersies being the most frequently involved in 58% and 43% respectively. V² was involved in 40%. The ocular trigeminal signs were present in 22% as initial symptom and reached a maximum of 77% in nine months. The associated symptoms were cervical lymph node enlargement in 75%, rhinological in 60% and otological in 59%. The presence of these associated signs together with the ocular trigeminal symptoms should arouse the suspicion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma especially in the Chinese.