Hodgkin's disease in the nasopharynx

Abstract

Nasal obstruction due to adenoid hypertrophy is extremely common in the pediatric age group and is generally successfully treated by adenoidectomy. The case report of the incidental finding of Hodgkin's disease in an adenoidectomy specimen will be presented. Overall, for all age groups and stages of disease, fewer than 75 cases of Hodgkin's disease with nasopharyngeal involvement have been reported in the world literature. Further, fewer than 15 cases had isolated primary involvement. Although unusual, the occurrence of primary adenoidal Hodgkin's disease in our patient supports the submission of adenoidal tissue for micropathological examination when a relatively large amount of tissue is found at the time of surgery.