Upper Aero-Digestive Tract Lymphomas Presenting as Polypoidal/Pedunculated Lesions: Case Report and Review of Literature

To describe a case of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presenting as a pedunculated/polypoidal mass in upper aero-digestive tract and to review pertinent literature.

Using Pubmed advanced search, case reports and literature were reviewed for this condition.

A 16 year old female presented with history of shortness of breath when lying down, voice change, progressing odynophagia and feeling of throat lump. Direct visualization showed flower like pedunculated mass, attached to the left lateral oropharyngeal wall. Excision of this mass showed DLBCL and no disease anywhere. She received four cycles of Rituximab + CHOP and is disease-free for 4 years. Only 21 cases of pedunculated upper aero-digestive tract lymphomas have been reported in literature. Median age 53 years (16–90 years), males 80 %, females 20 %, localized disease (65 %). Common sites were endobronchial polypoid lesion (7 cases), nasal polyps (7), nasopharyngeal polyps (2), nose and paranasal sinus (1), laryngeal polyp (2) and one each as gum, esophagus and oropharyngeal (current case) polyp. Pathology showed aggressive lymphoma in 94 %.

DLBCL as an extranodal pedunculated lesion in the oropharynx is very rare. Careful pathological evaluation is essential for these lesions for proper diagnosis.