The authors present a case of internal carotid malformation incurving into the nasopharynx in a 79-year-old female patient. The lateral X-ray showed this lesion to be similar to an adenoid hypertrophy but the final diagnosis was only possible through computed tomography of the cavum. They conclude that the best workup for benign hipertrophy of lymphoid tissue in an adult must include computed tomography, cavum endoscopy or magnetic ressonance.