Pleomorphic adenoma of the nasopharynx: a rare case with therapeutic misadventure

Background: The benign tumours of nasopharynx are least encountered tumours in otolaryngology, as nasopharynx is considered one of notorious anatomical site for the malignant tumours. We present a rare pleomorphic adenoma of nasopharynx which was misdiagnosed. Case presentation: An adult male presented with left nostril obstruction for five months. The examination found big mass extending from nasopharynx to oropharynx. The FNAC found it a carcinoma but it did not responded to radiotherapy. The excision biopsy of tumour revealed it as pleomorphic adenoma. We found only five published reports on this tumour arising from nasopharynx. Discussion and conclusion: The pleomorphic adenoma of nasopharynx is rare. It can be misdiagnosed as malignant epithelial tumour on histopathology. The differentiation from its malignant variant is also difficult. A possibility of benign tumour should always be kept in nasopharyngeal growth with no evidence of metastasis. Pathologist should always examine the slides thoroughly before making a diagnosis and no provisional diagnosis should be made in scanty, poor cytology.