An Unusual Localization of a Pleomorphic Adenoma in the Rhinopharynx

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor of the parotid glands. Rarely it may arise from minor salivary glands of the upper aerodigestive tract. A 57-year-old woman was admitted at our institution presenting with nasal obstruction. Endoscopic evaluation revealed a pedicled mass in the rhinopharynx. After radiological examination, we opted for a transnasal endoscopic-assisted excision of the mass under general anaesthesia. Histological evaluation deponed for pleomorphic adenoma with clear surgical margins. No endoscopic evidence of local recurrence has been shown after 48 months of followup. In the literature, few cases of pleomorphic adenoma arising in the rhinopharynx have been reported. The introduction of endoscopy, as shown by our experience, leads to important benefits in the identification, treatment, and followup of such rhinopharyngeal benign tumors.

Transnasal Endoscopic Resection of Torus Tubarius Pleomorphic Adenoma

“…Only 16 clinical reports of nasopharyngeal PAs have been described in the literature, but none of them originated exclusively from torus tubarius, as in our patient. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] This is 17th clinical report of nasopharyngeal PA and the first arising from torus tubarius PA in the literature.…”

“…Pleomorphic adenoma of the nose and nasopharynx generally presents as a well-defined lobulated soft tissue mass in the MRI and CT scans. 1,3,4,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] The treatment of choice is the surgical excision of the PA with histologically clear resection margins. Various surgical approaches have been developed such as transpalatal, transmaxillary, transmandibular, and tranpterygoid.…”

“…Pleomorphic adenoma of the nose and nasopharynx generally presents as a well-defined lobulated soft tissue mass in the MRI and CT scans. 1,3,4,7 -13…”