A morphologic and follow-up study on the nasopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and its relation to the cancer

Fourty-three cases of nasopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (NPLH) were studied morphologically and by follow-up during a period of 8.5 years in a high-incidence city of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The authors suggest that NPLH might be recognized as a disease entity in adults. Based on the sites and gross appearances of the hyperplastic lymphoid tissue, two types of NPLH, namely, adenoids and nodular, could be distinguished. The histopathological changes of NPLH were described in detail, and its relation to the development of NPC was discussed. According to this study, the authors disagree with the opinion that NPLH is a precancerous lesion.