Sinonasal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Abstract

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is the most common malignant lymphoma among sinonasal lymphomas. Diagnosis is difficult and prognosis is poor. Herein, we report the case of a 22-year-old male patient with sinonasal NK/T-cell lymphoma who first presented with nasal obstruction and left facial swelling. There was a mushroom-like mass over the hard palate, diffuse mucosal swelling in the left nasal cavity, and left orbital cellulitis. The patient underwent a Caldwell-Luc operation, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and wide excision of the palate tumor. Pathologic examination of the maxillary sinus, nasal cavity, and palate tumor showed an NK/T-cell lymphoma. Two days after the operation, the patient suddenly had bloody stool and suffered hematemesis. A series of examinations revealed a small intestinal hemorrhage. Emergent exploratory laparotomy showed an ulcerative tumor mass with bleeding over the jejunum. Pathologic examination of the mass showed that it was the same as the sinonasal mass, an NK/T-cell lymphoma. We reviewed previous studies on nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma and found no report discussing patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma of both nasal and non-nasal origins. From this case, we learned that in patients with sinonasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, other sites may be involved.