An Extremely Rare Nasopharyngeal Malignant Tumor: A Case Report

Nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma (NPAC) is an extremely rare primary malignant tumor. There is only a limited number of cases of NPACs reported in the literature. The neoplasm presents as an exophytic mass with a papillary or polypoid appearance derived from the nasopharyngeal surface epithelium. It can potentially involve any part of the nasopharynx, but it most commonly involves the roof, the lateral, and the posterior wall. The prognosis is very good and no recurrences or metastases have been reported. Nasal obstruction is the most common manifestation. Surgical excision is considered the most appropriate treatment method. There are also reports of patients undergoing radiation therapy. However, its role in the treatment has not been clarified. The presence of this tumor in the nasal cavity could be easily underestimated, because of its appearance. As a result, an index of suspicion is necessary for a timely diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. We present a case of NPAC in a 26-year-old female treated in our hospital.