Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal type presenting as a palatal perforation and naso-oral fistula.
Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKL), nasal type, a rare disease presenting with vague non-specific symptoms, can impose great diagnostic difficulties and may masquerade several infectious, rheumatological or neoplastic conditions. Here, the authors report a case of ENKL presenting as a palatal perforation, naso-oral fistula and fever in a 21-year-old man, which was initially misdiagnosed as bacterial osteomyelitis, invasive fungal infection and Wegener's granulomatosis. The case report underlines the possibility of ENKL occurring at a young age, its rapidly progressive and locally destructive nature, associated diagnostic challenges and the importance of immunophenotyping in establishing the diagnosis.
Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, New York, New York, USA. vrbhatta@gmail.com
Vijaya Raj
VR
Bhatt
Bibek
B
Koirala
Terenig
T
Terjanian
D006801:Humans; D054391:Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D010159:Palate; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult