Purpose To investigate the pathological characteristics of loco-regional recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma( rNPC). Methods Nasopharyngeal biopsy specimens of 46 rNPCs and 63 primary NPCs were collected. HE staining,immunohistochemistry and EBV small RNAs( EBERs) in-situ hybridization were performed. Results The over-expression rates of both p63 and CK5 /6 in rNPC were significantly higher than those of primary NPCs( P = 0. 005,P = 0. 026),while no statistical significance of Ki-67 over-expression existed b...