Extranodal Lymphoma Originating from Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue of the Nasopharynx

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica 2003-12, Vol.123 (9), p.1098-1101
• Main Authors: Prades, Eduardo, Alobid, Isam, Alós, Llucia, Guilemany, Jose Maria, Bernal-Sprekelsen, Manuel, Mullol, Joaquim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Chemotherapy; Cyclophosphamide - administration & dosage; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Endoscopy; Humans; lymphoma; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - diagnosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - drug therapy; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Methotrexate - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; nasopharynx; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prednisone - administration & dosage; Pterygoid Muscles - pathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Vincristine - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/00016480310014868

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma originating from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue has been connected with autoimmune disease. These tumours often arise in gastric mucosa and are extremely rare in airway mucosa. Three cases of mucosa- associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in the cavum have been reported in the literature. A 52-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis presented with an 8-month history of nasal obstruction and recurrent nasal blood discharge. On physical examination a bulky mass was observed in the nasopharynx. CT demonstrated a soft tissue lesion in the nasopharynx without bone destruction. MRI showed a contrast-enhanced mass with extension to the left pterygoid muscle. Biopsy revealed a low-grade B-cell lymphoid tumour of the marginal zone. The patient received six cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone with adriamycin treatment, together with intracranial methrotrexate as a prophylactic measure. After 48 months of follow-up there was no evidence of disease and a control MRI scan was normal. The prognosis of this type of tumour is unpredictable and there are too few cases to enable definitive conclusions to be drawn.