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EBV DNA NPC — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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ModerateHead & Neck CancerEBV DNA NPCSCE Medical Oncology

A 62-year-old woman with NPC has plasma EBV DNA monitoring. Pre-treatment: 15,000 copies/mL. Post-CRT: undetectable. At 6 months: rises to 500 copies/mL. What does this indicate?

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Correct answer: E — Rising post-treatment EBV DNA is highly sensitive for recurrence (~90% sensitivity) — urgent imaging needed even before symptoms

Plasma EBV DNA: pre-treatment correlates with burden; clearance = response; rising = recurrence (weeks-months before imaging). Standard NPC surveillance biomarker.

Reference: Chan et al NEJM 2004; ESMO 2024 NPC