Nasopharyngeal Inflammatory Polyp With Pseudo‐Lymphangiomatous Features: A Case Report
- 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Rotorua Hospital Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Bay of Plenty New Zealand
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal masses encompass a broad differential diagnosis, including inflammatory, congenital and neoplastic lesions. Lymphangiomas are rare benign lymphatic malformations and are infrequently reported in the nasopharynx. We present an unusual case of an inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp with pseudolymphangiomatous histological features that initially mimicked lymphangioma. A 22‐year‐old male presented with recurrent nasal obstruction. Endoscopy demonstrated an atypical polypoid lesion protruding through the left choana. Computed tomography showed a 30 × 22 × 20 mm lesion arising from the left superior turbinate and extending into the nasopharynx, without bone destruction. Endoscopic resection was performed. Initial histology showed multiple dilated fluid‐filled spaces within densely hyalinised stroma, with CD31 positivity, raising concern for lymphangioma. The ERG‐negative profile was atypical, and repeat immunohistochemistry with CD31, D2‐40 and CD34 failed to demonstrate endothelial lining of the spaces. The fluid‐filled spaces were, therefore, interpreted as stromal oedema rather than true lymphatic channels, and the diagnosis was revised to an oedematous inflammatory polyp with pseudolymphangiomatous appearance. Postoperative follow‐up was arranged, but the patient did not attend. Our targeted literature review did not identify previous reports of pseudolymphangiomatous change in inflammatory nasal polyps. This case expands the recognised histopathological spectrum of inflammatory sinonasal polyps and underscores the need for cautious clinicopathological interpretation of rare nasopharyngeal presentations.
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BibTeX
@article{woodbridge2026nasopharyngeal,
title = {{Nasopharyngeal Inflammatory Polyp With Pseudo‐Lymphangiomatous Features: A Case Report}},
author = {Christian Woodbridge and Alejandro Fandino and Sahr Kortequee},
journal = {Case Reports in Otolaryngology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1155/crot/6236430},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/crot/6236430},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nasopharyngeal Inflammatory Polyp With Pseudo‐Lymphangiomatous Features: A Case Report
AU - Christian Woodbridge
AU - Alejandro Fandino
AU - Sahr Kortequee
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Case Reports in Otolaryngology
DO - 10.1155/crot/6236430
UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/crot/6236430
AB - Nasopharyngeal masses encompass a broad differential diagnosis, including inflammatory, congenital and neoplastic lesions. Lymphangiomas are rare benign lymphatic malformations and are infrequently reported in the nasopharynx. We present an unusual case of an inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp with pseudolymphangiomatous histological features that initially mimicked lymphangioma. A 22‐year‐old male presented with recurrent nasal obstruction. Endoscopy demonstrated an atypical polypoid lesion protruding through the left choana. Computed tomography showed a 30 × 22 × 20 mm lesion arising from the left superior turbinate and extending into the nasopharynx, without bone destruction. Endoscopic resection was performed. Initial histology showed multiple dilated fluid‐filled spaces within densely hyalinised stroma, with CD31 positivity, raising concern for lymphangioma. The ERG‐negative profile was atypical, and repeat immunohistochemistry with CD31, D2‐40 and CD34 failed to demonstrate endothelial lining of the spaces. The fluid‐filled spaces were, therefore, interpreted as stromal oedema rather than true lymphatic channels, and the diagnosis was revised to an oedematous inflammatory polyp with pseudolymphangiomatous appearance. Postoperative follow‐up was arranged, but the patient did not attend. Our targeted literature review did not identify previous reports of pseudolymphangiomatous change in inflammatory nasal polyps. This case expands the recognised histopathological spectrum of inflammatory sinonasal polyps and underscores the need for cautious clinicopathological interpretation of rare nasopharyngeal presentations.
SN - 2090-6765
SN - 2090-6773
ER -