A 48-year-old woman is diagnosed with Stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma without distant metastasis. The primary modality of treatment for locoregional disease at this stage is:

• A Radical surgery via maxillary swing approach
• B Definitive external beam radiotherapy ✓
• C Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery
• D Intracavitary brachytherapy alone

Explanation

Because of its deep central location, proximity to the skull base, and early submucosal spread, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is managed primarily with radiotherapy; surgery plays no curative role for the primary tumour. Early stage disease (Stage I and II) is treated with definitive external beam radiotherapy alone, while locally advanced disease adds concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy. Brachytherapy is reserved for selected residual or recurrent superficial disease, never as sole primary treatment.

Reference: Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat (Dhingra), 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.