Nasopharyngeal mantle cell lymphoma: an extremely rare entity

ABSTRACT

Mantle cell lymphoma [MCL] is a rare, aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. It seldom affects the Waldeyer's ring let alone the nasopharynx. Patients usually present at late stages of the disease leading to poor failure-free and overall survival rates. Intensive chemotherapy regimes and autologous stem cell transplantation have reported increased survival rates. We report a relapsed case of nasopharyngeal MCL, which previously occurred in the gastrointestinal tract. The patient had undergone a hemicolectomy for colon intussusception secondary to the intraluminal lymphoma mass. He was unable to complete the treatment regime for MCL due to the adverse side effects. Oropharyngeal mass was discovered during routine outpatient follow-up, which was confirmed as nasopharyngeal MCL. We discuss the prognosis, disease progression, and possible treatments