Melanotic Oncocytic Metaplasia of the Nasopharynx: An Unusual Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction:
Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx is an uncommon disease, usually asymptomatic, that could be misdiagnosed for melanoma, because of its macroscopic features. For this reason, is necessary to know it thoroughly and to take it into account in the differential diagnosis.
 
Case Report:
A 69-year-old Italian woman presented to our Otorhinolaryngology Clinic with a 1-month history of sore throat. She has been a smoker for several years. During the nasopharyngoscopic examination, grey-brown, irregular and slightly elevated lesions, measuring few millimetres, were found near the right Eustachian tube opening. The preliminary diagnostic hypothesis was malignant disease. After biopsy and histopathological assessment, the lesion was diagnosed as melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx that is a benign and rare disease. So, given the multiple lesions and their benign nature, they were controlled with regular nasoscopic examinations.
 
Conclusion:
Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia is a benign lesion of the nasopharynx and it is necessary to emphasize the importance of its clinical awareness for differential diagnosis with malignant lesions.

Keywords

References

  1. Shek TW, Luk IS, Nicholls JM, Fok KO. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Histopathology. 1995; 26(3):273-5. doi:10.1111/ j. 1365-2559.1995.tb01442.x
  2. Takano K, Sato J, Shirasaki H, Yamazaki N, Hoki K, Himi T. Melanin pigmented oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2004; 31(2):161-163. doi:10.1016/j.anl.2004.01.003
  3. Kondo T, Mori K, Oka S, Morinaka S. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx as a benign mimicker of malignant melanoma: a case report. Diagn Pathol. 2010; 5:5.doi:10.1186/1746-1596-5-5
  4. Tajima S, Ohkubo A, Yoshida M, Koda K, Nameki I. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx: a case report with a focus on immunohistochemical analyses and literature review. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015; 8(2):2103-2110.
  5. Hirakawa E, Miki H, Ohmori M, Kobayashi S, Haba R, Nagai Y. Melanin pigmented oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Virchows Arch. 1999; 434(5):455-7. doi:10.1007/s004280050366
  6. Uehara K, Usami Y, Imai Y, Shimizu M. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Pathol Int. 2015; 65(3):144-147. doi:10.1111/pin. 12247
  7. Guaraldi F, Zang G, Dackiw AP, Caturegli P. Oncocytic mania: a review of oncocytic lesions throughout the body. J Endocrinol Invest. 2011; 34(5):383-94. doi:10.1007/BF03347464
  8. Uehara T, Matsubara O, Kasuga T. Melanocytes in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. Incidence and distribution in Japan. Acta Pathol Jpn. 1987; 37(7): 1105-1114.doi:10.1111/j.1440-1827.1987. tb00427.x
  9. Sakaki M, Shek TW, Hirokawa M, Kashima K, Daa T, Gamachi A, et al. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx: a report of seven cases and review of the literature. Virchows Arch. 2004; 444(4):345-349.doi:10. 1007/ s00428-003-0970-4
  10. Chang IW, Wang CC, Liu KW, Lan CH, Hung CH. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Pol J Pathol. 2014; 65(2):162-164. doi:10.5114/pjp.2014.43969
  11. Na JY, Kim YH, Choi YD, Lee JS. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx: a report of three cases and review of the literature. Korean J Pathol. 2012; 46(2):201-204. doi:10.4132/ Korean J Pathol.2012.46.2.201.
  12. Xue WC, Hui YZ. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Histopathology. 1999; 35(5):481-482. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2559. 1999.035005481.x.
  13. Li Y, Lu ZH, Lü W, Chen J. Images for diagnosis. Melanotic oncocytic metaplasia of nasopharynx: a case report with review. Chin Med J (Engl). 2010; 123(9):1230-1232.
  14. Lin YZ, Lin YH, Hung SH. A Dark Pigmented Spot in the Nasopharynx. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015; 141(7):661-662. doi:10.1001/ jamaoto.2015.0670.
  15. Li JJX, Ng JKM, Chan ABW. Clinicopatho- logical features of melanotic and non-melanotic oncocytic lesions of the nasopharynx. Pathology. 2019; 51(6):600-604.doi: 10.1016/j. pathol. 2019. 04.009.
  16. Chen HY, Gule MF, Chang IW. Melanotic Oncocytic Metaplasia of the Nasopharynx: A Case Report with Review of Literature. Ear Nose Throat J. 2020; 145561320907427.
  17. Lim CT. Oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.1998;118 (3Pt1):419.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 33, Issue 4
July and August 2021
Pages 243-247

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics