Primary sinonasal lymphoma in immunocompetent patients: A 10 years retrospective clinicopathological study

Sinonasal tumors occur in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses (PNS). These tumors are rare and lymphomas are even rarer. Lymphoma of the nose and PNS may mimic benign processes and may manifest either in an isolated fashion or in conjunction with systemic diseases. B-cell lymphomas, a more favorable diagnosis, account for the majority of cases, whereas T-cell and extranodal natural killer lymphoma are associated with rapid disease progression and death.

All patients with sinonasal lymphomas who were nonreactive for HIV and were operated and treated in our hospital from 2006 to 2016 were included in the study. Histopathological diagnosis and immunohistochemistry using a panel of antibodies (CK, CD99, CD 15, CD30, CD45, Bcl 2, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1, CD 16, CD 57 and ki-67) were reviewed and recorded.

Out of 153 malignant sinonasal tumors, 18 were diagnosed with lymphoma. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma constituted 88.8% of cases with the most common subtype being diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 12, 66.6%). Maxillary sinus was the most frequently involved site (62%). The average age of presentation was 52 years with a slight male predominance. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans were done in virtually all cases to assess the extent of the tumor as well as bony destruction. Average 5-year survival was 50%. Local recurrence was the most frequent cause of treatment failure.

Malignant lymphomas constituted 11.7% of all malignancies of PNS. The association of diffuse large B-cell tumors with obstructive nasal mass and T-cell tumors with septal perforation, orbital extension and ophthalmological symptoms were more commonly seen.