# Salvage endoscopic nasopharyngectomy in locally recurrent carcinoma adjacent to the internal carotid artery—A case report

## TL;DR

A case report shows successful endoscopic surgery for a rare throat cancer near a major artery, challenging assumptions about surgical limits.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that endoscopic nasopharyngectomy can be feasible even when tumors are near the internal carotid artery.

## Key findings

- Endoscopic surgery successfully treated a locally recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma near the internal carotid artery.
- The case challenges the assumption that proximity to critical structures precludes surgical resection.

## Abstract

In cases adjacent to critical structures, such as the internal carotid artery, surgeons should meticulously explore the feasibility of surgery before declaring the neoplasm unresectable.

Salvage treatment for locally recurrent carcinoma of the nasopharynx constitutes a unique challenge. Surgery remains the gold standard treatment modality. Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy is considered a safe and feasible procedure overcoming the morbidities of an open surgery. Tumor adjacency to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is not an absolute contradiction for the endoscopic approach. Even in cases adjacent to critical structures, surgeons should meticulously explore the feasibility of surgery before declaring the neoplasm unresectable. We present the case of a 56‐year‐old male with locally recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) of the nasopharynx adjacent to the ICA treated with endoscopic nasopharyngectomy.