Unusual presentation and behaviour of Carcinoma Nasopharynx - A Case Report

Carcinoma Nasopharynx is a common malignancy seen in South East Asia. It has a bimodal age distribution and has a high propensity of metastasis. It has been rarely seen in associatation with a xanthogranulomatous reaction and leukemoid reaction. According to the literature, malignancies associated with a granulomatous reaction have a better prognosis. Here is a case report of an 18 year old boy who came with complaAints of swelling and pain in the right shoulder and was found to have a xanthogranulomatous reaction at that site. Subsequently he was found to have a nasopharyngeal mass with nodal and osseous metastasis. The clinical picture was obsured by his initial presentation and this lead to a delay in the diagnosis of the nasopharyngeal malignancy. He was subsequently started on treatment, however, after an initial response to the therapy, his disease continued to progress indicating an aggressive nature of the disease.