Transnasal endoscopic resection of a nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma: a rare case report

A Rare Case of a Nasopharyngeal Pleomorphic Adenoma Mimicking a Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign pathology of the major salivary gland but rare in the minor salivary gland, especially in the nasopharynx, with only a few cases reported in the literature. A 76-year-old lady presented with bilateral nasal blockage for one year secondary to a nasopharyngeal mass. Histopathological examination reported it to be nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the mass persisted after a course of chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. Upon repeat biopsy, the mass was found to be a pleomorphic adenoma. The patient underwent nasopharyngectomy without complications and no evidence of recurrence after 18 months of follow-up.

Sinonasal/nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: a report of 17 surgical cases combined with a literature review

Objective: The aim of this study was to review demographic data, location, clinical symptoms, therapeutic methods, pathological features and relapse in sinonasal/nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 17 patients who were referred to our hospital during a 5-year period from 2013 to 2018.

Results: In this series, there were 7 males and 10 females. The tumors originated from the nasal septum in 4 cases, from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity in 2 cases, from the maxillary sinus in 1 case, and from the nasopharynx in 7 cases. The origin sites of 3 cases were not clear. The main symptoms were usually unilateral nasal congestion and epistaxis. All patients underwent endoscopic resection surgery. The postoperative period was uneventful. Ten patients were diagnosed with benign PA, and 7 patients were diagnosed with CXPA, including 5 cases of adenocarcinoma, 1 patient with mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and 1 patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. After a mean follow-up period of 2.2 years (6 months–5.3 years), the recurrence rate of benign PA was 10% (1/10); the rate of malignant recurrence was 42.8% (3/7).

Conclusion: Sinonasal/nasopharyngeal PA and CXPA are rare neoplasms, and the most common primary site of PA and CXPA is the nasopharynx. As any salivary carcinoma type can arise in PA, these PA sites should be thoroughly sampled and closely examined to exclude the possibility of malignant transformation. Furthermore, PA and CXPA should be treated as soon as possible after definitive diagnosis, and endoscopic resection of tumor-negative margins may be helpful in preventing recurrence.

Coblator-Assisted Endoscopic Transnasal Resection of a Large Nasopharyngeal Pleomorphic Adenoma

Background

Pleomorphic adenomas occurring in the adult nasopharynx are rare, with our literature search identifying only 11 previous English-language reports. We document the unusual case of a large nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma that was resected using radiofrequency coblation via an endoscopic transnasal approach.

Methods

A 39-year-old male presented with worsening nasal congestion, intermittent otalgia, and a progressive change in voice. Flexible nasendoscopy showed a large homogeneous mass occupying the postnasal space, and computed tomography confirmed a 28 × 31 × 22 mm nasopharyngeal tumour. The biopsy-proven benign tumour was locally dissected using a coblator-assisted transnasal approach.

Results

Histology confirmed complete excision of a myoepithelial-rich pleomorphic adenoma. The patient was symptom-free postoperatively, and no signs of recurrence were seen at one-year follow-up.

Conclusions

This is a useful addition to the existing literature on surgical procedures used to treat benign pathology in the nasopharynx. The minimally invasive technique was well tolerated and had favourable patient outcomes.

Nasopharyngeal Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature

Salivary gland tumors are rare among all head and neck tumors. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most commonly seen subtype, and 85% of the cases are located in the parotid gland. PA may very rarely be seen in minor salivary glands. Minor salivary gland PAs are mostly located in the hard and soft palates. Nasopharyngeal PA is very rare, and a total of 8 cases have been published to date. In this case report, a 51-year-old female patient who had nasopharyngeal PA with chondroid metaplasia is presented, and we review the relevant literature.

Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx: Report of a Rare Case and a Review of the Literature

Salivary gland carcinomas are very rare in the nasopharynx, with the most frequent histologic types being adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified. Myoepithelial carcinoma (MECA) is a rare tumor of the salivary glands, and there are only three previously reported cases of nasopharyngeal MECA. The case presented is the fourth reported case of MECA in the nasopharynx. Due to the morphologic heterogeneity of MECA, immunohistochemistry is indispensable in ascertaining the diagnosis. MECA is a locally aggressive tumor, but the long-term prognosis of this tumor in the nasopharynx remains uncertain. In our case the tumor was unresectable and the patient was given chemo-radiotherapy. Despite this, residual tumor was seen on nasoscopy 5 months after initial diagnosis and was documented on a re-biopsy which displayed the same histomorphologic features as the original tumor.

Management of pleomorphic adenoma in the nasopharynx: a case report

BACKGROUND

Pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) are the most common type of benign salivary gland tumours and usually originate from the major salivary glands. PA originating from the nasopharynx has rarely been reported in the literature.

CASE REPORT

A 62 year-old male presented with right aural fullness and subjective hearing loss. Otoscopic examination revealed an opaque and bulging tympanic membrane. Nasal endoscopic examination revealed a smooth mass arising from the right wall of the nasopharynx, obstructing the opening of the right Eustachian tube. The MRI showed a 1.3×2×1.3 cm sharply outlined and lobar mass in the right lateral wall of the nasopharynx. The tumour was meticulously detached from its attachment site and excised via the transnasal route under endoscopic visualisation.

CONCLUSION

We reported pleomorphic adenoma in the nasopharynx in a patient who presented with serous otitis media that successfully resected with transnasal endoscopic surgery and discussed the treatment methods.

Nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma presenting as otitis media with effusion: case report and literature review

Most tumors arising in the nasopharynx are malignant and frequently develop otitis media with effusion (OME). On the contrary, benign nasopharyngeal tumors are very rare, and pleomorphic adenoma, which is a benign mixed tumor of the nasopharynx, is also rarely encountered. We herein report a case of nasopharyngeal pleomorphic adenoma which initially presented as OME. This tumor completely blocked the orifice of the Eustachian tube but was removed by a combination of transnasal and transoral endoscopic resection. A defect in the mucous membrane was covered with polyglycolic acid sheet and fibrin glue. Mucous membrane completely covered the exposed tubal cartilage without adhesion near the tubal orifice. OME and hearing loss completely subsided 3 months after the surgery. She was disease-free 2 years after the surgery. Use of polyglycolic acid sheet could be a feasible mesh for closure of surgical defect without scarring, and it also led to healing of OME.

An endonasal approach to the resection of a papillary seromucinous adenocarcinoma of the eustacian tube

Objectives

Papillary seromucinous adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract is exceedingly rare. The objectives of this case report are to describe a case of papillary seromucinous adenocarcinoma presenting in the nasopharynx and to review the literature pertaining to other similar cases.

Methods

A review of the patient's chart and a review of the English literature were conducted.

Results

We describe the case of a 64 year-old woman who presented with a 3-year history of epistaxis and right-sided otitis media with effusion. The patient had been followed for a known nasopharyngeal mass that had twice been biopsied and in both cases was considered a benign mass pathologically. A third biopsy was diagnosed as a low-grade papillary seromucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient was otherwise asymptomatic. The patient was referred to a multidisciplinary cancer clinic at which endoscopic resection was determined to be the preferred treatment modality. A literature review and approach to patients with nasopharyngeal masses will be presented.

Conclusions

Papillary seromucinous adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor that can present in the nasopharynx. We describe the endoscopic surgical management of one such patient that presented to our care.