nasal-type extranodal natural killer/t-cell lymphoma mimicking recurrent sinusitis: a case report and review of the literature

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (nk)/t-cell lymphoma (enktl) is a rare type of lymphoma that is endemic to east asia. it typically demonstrates as a destructive mass involving the midline facial tissues that causes rhinosinusitis symptoms such as nasal obstruction, sinusitis, ulcer, and epistaxis. the diagnostic tendency of nasal-type enktl is to use computed tomography (ct), but this may present infiltrative patterns without a prominent mass, making it difficult to distinguish enktl from benign inflammatory diseases. here, we report a 59-year-old male with a chief complaint of rhinosinusitis symptoms, mimicking chronic sinusitis and a ct scan showing a typical right sinusitis pattern. functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed and a positive culture was consistent with the diagnosis. however, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation established the diagnosis of nasal type enktl. follow-up positron emission tomography-computed tomography (pet-ct) also corresponded with this diagnosis, and therefore, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were indicated.