A rare encounter in the nasopharynx: Extramedullary plasmacytoma

Abstract

Extra-medullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare tumor that most frequently occur in the head and neck region, with the paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx and tonsils being the most common sites. Diagnostic criteria for EMP include histological confirmation of a solitary plasma cell lesion, the presence of fewer than 5% plasma cells in the bone marrow, and the absence of end-organ damage commonly associated with multiple myeloma. CT scans and MRI features are nonspecific and can mimic those of other conditions. EMP of the nasopharynx presents as a slow-growing, radiosensitive mass with a favorable prognosis.

We present the case of a 55-year-old male patient who sought medical attention for recurrent epistaxis. An endoscopic examination revealed a tumor located in the nasopharynx, which was confirmed by MRI as a confined nasopharyngeal mass. Subsequent pathology studies, laboratory results, and bone marrow biopsy were consistent with a solitary EMP of the nasopharynx.