Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, with extranasal presentation – a case report and a review of the literature

Abstract

Background

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), nasal type is a very rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most commonly it occurs in the upper aerodigestive tract. But, it can also manifest at locations such as the skin, soft tissue, gastrointestinal tract (GI), lungs, testis, etc. These locations are designated as extranasal ENKTCL. The patients with the latter have often more adverse clinical features and poorer survival rate compared with nasal sites. We present a case of an 83-year-old patient with a primary ENKTCL, nasal type, with extranasal presentation in the right upper eyelid.

Material and methods

Materials for the literature review was obtained by a comprehensive search on PubMed, which yielded 82 eligible cases with extranasal ENKTCL.

Results

Sixty-eight cases (83 %) were localized as primary ENKTCL in the lungs (17), central nervous system (CNS) (14), testis (11), GI-tract (7), skin (6), orbit and intraocular tissue (4), pancreas (2), adrenal gland (2), breast (1), etc. 14 cases (17 %) presented as extended or disseminated diseases involving exclusively organs outside the upper aerodigestive tract. There was no systematic pattern of organ involvement in the extended/disseminated ENKTCL. 63 % of the patient with localized extranasal ENKTCL and about 50% of patients with extended/disseminated disease were reported to have died of the disease. Treatment strategies varied with no preferred option. Among the used treatment options were chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplantation alone or in different combinations.

Conclusion

ENKTCL is a highly aggressive disease which may present in extranasal areas. Although the tumors respond to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, durable complete remissions are very rare.

Keywords:

• Primary extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma
• nasal type
• extranasal presentation
• upper aerodigestive tract
• treatment
• prognosis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).