Sjögren's syndrome and serous otitis media

Extrasalivary lymphoid abnormalities in Sjögren's syndrome are well described. Patients have been found to have lymphoid infiltration of many organ systems. The nature of the lymphoid abnormalities constitutes a spectrum ranging from benign to malignant disease. A case of an elderly patient with long standing Sjögren's syndrome is presented because of the unusual manifestation of a benign lymphoid mass in the nasopharynx producing unilateral eustachian tube obstruction and serous otitis media. Serous otitis media associated with Sjögren's syndrome is recognized, but to our knowledge in previous cases an extrasalivary lymphoid abnormality has not been implicated as the underlying pathology.