Adult Adenoid Hypertrophy Mimicking a Nasopharyngeal Mass: A Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract

The adenoids, also known as the nasopharyngeal tonsils, come from lymphoid tissue in the pharyngeal mucosa. They are part of Waldeyer’s ring, which is a circular arrangement of lymphoid tissue. This ring includes the pharyngeal (adenoid), palatine, lingual, and tubal tonsils. These tonsils are located at the entrance of the aerodigestive tract. They play an important role in mucosal immunity during early life by trapping inhaled pathogens and helping with antigen presentation. This contributes to both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Adenoid hypertrophy is predominantly a pediatric condition and rarely persists into adulthood due to physiological involution after puberty. When present in adults, it may clinically and radiologically mimic various nasopharyngeal pathologies, including malignancy. We report a case of a 51-year-old woman presenting with long-standing left-sided nasal obstruction. She also presented with snoring, mouth breathing and headache. Clinical examination revealed a deviated nasal