Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is uncommon in western countries and data on the outcome and histological presentation are scarce in nonendemic areas. We report here the outcome on all patients with NPC treated in Finland between 1990 and 2009.

Material and methods: The Finnish Cancer Registry database was used to identify the patients. Histopathological specimens and clinical records were reviewed to confirm the histological subtypes, prognostic factors, treatment techniques and outcome across different stage groups.

Results: Primary NPC was identified in 207 patients and 42 (20%) had keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The stage distribution was: I, 11%; II, 25%; III, 39%; IV, 25%. Of 191 patients treated with curative intent 85 (44%) received radiotherapy and 106 (56%) chemoradiotherapy. The five-year overall survival for all patients was 57% and for stages I–IV 87%, 69%, 55% and 31%, respectively. The five-year disease-specific and overall survival of all patients treated between 1990 and 1999 were 58% and 49%, and those between 2000 and 2009 66% and 63%, respectively.

Conclusions: While survival rates are improving and comparable to other western countries they remain inferior to those of endemic countries. This may reflect the different biology of NPC in nonendemic areas, where keratinizing SCC is common.