Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer of the epithelial cells lining the nasopharynx — the space at the top of the throat, directly behind the nasal cavity. During CPAP use, pressurized air flows from the device through the mask and into the nasopharynx. When that air carries foam degradation byproducts — including toluene diisocyanate, dimethylformamide, and particulate foam matter — the nasopharyngeal tissue receives direct, repeated carcinogenic exposure every night the device is used. This direct anatomical exposure pathway makes NPC the most causally clear of all CPAP-linked cancers.

Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer include nasal congestion or blockage, nosebleeds, a lump in the neck (swollen lymph node), hearing loss or ear fullness, persistent headaches, and in advanced disease, facial numbness or double vision. NPC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because early symptoms mimic common sinus conditions. If you used a recalled Philips device for six months or more and have been diagnosed with NPC, contact us immediately — nasopharyngeal cancer claims are among the highest-value claims in this litigation.