Histopathological results of nasopharyngeal masses of adult patients: a study from two centres in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nasopharyngeal masses in adult patients in most cases are considered to be tumours unless proven otherwise.

Aim: To determine the histopathological results of nasopharyngeal masses seen in adult patients in Port Harcourt Nigeria. It will also highlight the management outcomes of these patients.

Methods: A prospective (January 2010 to December 2013) study of 45 patients with both clinical and radiological evidence of nasopharyngeal masses seen at the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery clinics of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Kinx Medical Consultants clinic in Port Harcourt. All the patients had examination under anaesthesia (E/U/A) of the nose and nasopharynx and biopsy.  The data collected were documented in a proforma designed for the study by the researchers. The data are bio-data, clinical features, investigations, histopathological findings, treatment, complications and management outcome. The data were entered into an SPSS version 14 computer soft ware and analyzed descriptively.

Results: Forty five adult patients had E/U/A of the nose and nasopharynx and biopsy of nasopharyngeal masses. They all had history of chronic rhinorrhoea, snoring and nasal obstruction. Age range was 18-72 years. There were 20 males and 25 females with male to female ratio of 1:1.25. The commonest histopathological diagnosis was adenoidal hyperplasia (n=36, 80%) followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n=5, 11.11%).

Conclusion: Even though the predominant histopathological result of nasopharyngeal masses in adult patients we encountered was adenoidal hyperplasia, all tissues from the nasopharynx irrespective of their benign macroscopic appearances should be subjected to histopathological examination to avoid missing out more sinister diagnosis.

Keywords: Examination under anaesthesia, Nasopharyngeal masses, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Adenoidal hyperplasia, Squamous cell carcinoma