Carcinoma nasofaríngeo familiar en zona no endémica. Presentación de 3 familias / Familial clustering of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in non-endemic area. Report of three families

El carcinoma nasofaríngeo es el tumor más frecuente que surge en la nasofaringe. Su etología es multifactorial, considerándose como factores de riesgo la distribución racial y geográfica, la infección por el virus de Epstein-Barr (VEB), así como la exposición ambiental a determinas sustancias. Esta afección es endémica en algunas zonas asiáticas, donde se han encontrado predisposición genética en su oncogénesis. Existe una fuerte susceptibilidad entre el carcinoma de nasofaríngeo y el HLA, donde se han encontrado haplotipos relacionados específicos. En zonas donde la incidencia es baja, existen pocos casos publicados sobre familias afectadas. Reportamos 3 casos de familias con carcinoma de nasofaringe entre hermanos, en población no asiática, probablemente relacionada con la infección por el VEB (AU)

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the predominant tumour type arising in the nasopharynx. Its aetiology is multifactorial; racial and geographical distribution, EBV infection and environmental exposure to specific substances are considered risk factors. This condition is endemic in some Asian areas, where a genetic predisposition in its oncogenesis has been established. There is a strong susceptibility between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and HLA, where related specific haplotypes have been found. In areas where the incidence is low, there are few reported cases of families affected. We report 3 cases of families with nasopharyngeal carcinoma among siblings, in the non-Asian population, probably related to EBV infection (AU)

Familial clustering of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in non-endemic area. Report of three families. / Carcinoma nasofaríngeo familiar en zona no endémica. Presentación de 3 familias.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the predominant tumour type arising in the nasopharynx. Its aetiology is multifactorial; racial and geographical distribution, EBV infection and environmental exposure to specific substances are considered risk factors. This condition is endemic in some Asian areas, where a genetic predisposition in its oncogenesis has been established. There is a strong susceptibility between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and HLA, where related specific haplotypes have been found. In areas where the incidence is low, there are few reported cases of families affected. We report 3 cases of families with nasopharyngeal carcinoma among siblings, in the non-Asian population, probably related to EBV infection.