Melanin pigmented oncocytic metaplasia of the nasopharynx

A case of melanin pigmented oncocytic metaplasia is reported. A 62-year-old man presented with a history of discomfort of the ear of a 2 weeks’ duration. Nasoscopic examination revealed a black nodule of about 5 mm at the left Eustachian opening, and several black spots were discovered around the bilateral torus tubarius. The nodule was biopsied to determine the histology. Microscopically, there were oncocytic cells with abundant pigmented granules showing glandular pattern. Such a pigmented variant of benign oncocytic lesion is very rare.