title: Nasopharyngeal non-intestinal-type adenocarcinoma: a case report and updated review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-intestinal-type adenocarcinoma is a malignancy traditionally found in the sinonasal cavity. To our knowledge, this case is the first reported of this rare condition originating in the nasopharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 67-year-old woman with nasopharyngeal non-intestinal-type adenocarcinoma, with an accompanying parapharyngeal mass received primary radiation treatment for both lesions. Her tumour subsequently persisted, with a concomitant conversion in pathology from a low- to a high-grade malignancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-intestinal-type and intestinal-type adenocarcinomas of the nasopharynx are extremely rare tumours and do not appear in the World Health Organization classification system. We review the pathophysiologic features of these malignancies and propose modifications to the current classification system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-intestinal-type adenocarcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal masses. In our experience, this tumour in this location showed a partial response to primary radiation but later converted from a low- to a high-grade adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa;; The Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caulley
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa;; The Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital;; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa; and.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Purgina
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital;; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa; and.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital;; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Esche
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa;; The Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson-Obaseki
keywords: Non-intestinal adenocarcinoma; disease classifications; intestinal adenocarcinoma; nasopharynx; sinonasal cavity