Clinico-pathological Study of Space Occupying Lesions of Nasal Cavity, Paranasal Sinuses and Nasopharynx

Comparison of clinicopathological and preoperative computed tomography findings of sinonasal masses

Background and objectives: Computerized tomography (CT) scan with contrast can delineate soft tissue pathologies and is now the first choice in diagnosing sinonasal malignancy and inflammatory lesions. The present study compared the diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE) and CT scan to diagnose cases presented with sinonasal mass. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on patients with sinonasal masses attending at Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala from 1/1/2014 to 30/6/2015. Each patient was examined by diagnostic nasal endoscopy and had undergone preoperative CT scan. Histopathological examination of the specimens was carried out and compared with the findings of DNE and CT scan. Results: A total of 72 cases were enrolled in the study. Age group was from 13-85 years with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Nasal obstruction was the commonest symptom. Among the 72 cases, 59 belonged to the non-neoplastic group and 13 to the neoplastic group. Sinonasal polyps (65.3%) formed the majority of the non-neoplastic lesions. Vascular lesions (6.9%) were the commonest benign neoplastic mass and malignancy was seen in 6.9% of cases. Diagnosis by DNE and CT scan was same except in 3 cases. Histopathology and radiological scan result correlated well except in 3 cases. Conclusion: Histopathology still remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of sinonasal masses. Clinical, CT scan and histopathology diagnoses were complementary with each other. However, CT scan is indispensible in studying the anatomical variants and providing the route map prior to and during endoscopic sinus surgeries. IMC J Med Sci 2022; 16(1): 008 *Correspondence: Santhi Thankappan Pillai, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Government TD Medical College, Vandanam, Alappuzha, Kerala 688005, India. Email: sttpillai@gmail.com

Diagnostic challenges in malignant tumors of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

Introduction:

Malignant tumors of sinonasal tract are extremely rare and comprise 3% of all head and neck malignant tumors. They constitute 0.2% of all invasive carcinomas. Sinonasal space is a small anatomical place, but is the site of origin for tumors with diverse histological features. Many of the tumors are similar to those that occur in various parts of the body and have overlapping histological features. A panel of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers is essential to diagnose these tumors. Most of the tumors arise in the maxillary sinus followed by ethmoid sinus. History and complete head and neck examination along with biopsy are mandatory for evaluating the disease.

Aim and Objectives:

To study the age-, sex- and site-wise incidence of different malignant lesions of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. To subtype and classify the malignant tumors as per the WHO guidelines.

Materials and Methods:

Forty-seven cases of sinonasal tumors reported over a period of 3 years were retrieved from the archives of the department of pathology. The tissues were subjected to paraffin processing and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. IHC was done with a panel of markers, wherever necessary.

Results:

The present study included a total of 47 malignant lesions. Of which, 24 cases (51.06%) were squamous cell carcinomas (five cases each of well-differentiated SCC and moderately differentiated SCC and 14 cases of nonkeratinizing SCC). Five (10.63%) cases each were of neuroendocrine carcinoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Conclusion:

Malignant neoplasms of sinonasal tract have overlapping clinical and pathological findings; establishing the correct diagnosis is difficult without using a panel of IHC markers.

Presentation of Lesions of Nose and Paranasal Sinuses at a Tertiary Care Center in Central India

A variety of non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions involve the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus and are fairly common presentation encountered in clinical practice. Sinonasal lesions are a common finding in all age groups. The lesion of nose and paranasal sinuses are very deceptive so, the presenting features, clinical examination, nasal endoscopy, radiodiagnosis and histopathology are employed conjointly to reach a diagnosis. This cross sectional study was conducted between November 2014 and September 2016. 150 patients with nasal or paranasal sinus lesions attending ENT OPD were included. Among 150 patients there was a male predominance in all lesion except malignant lesions and most of the patients 72 (48%) were in the age group 11- 30 years. Mean age of presentation for benign lesions was 33.64 years and of malignant lesions was 49.14 years. The study showed that 96 (64%) of the nose and PNS lesions were of inflammatory nature followed by 22 (15%) benign, 18 (12%) granulomatous and 14 (9%) malignant, Inflammatory polyp being the most common diagnosis. Haemangioma was the most common benign neoplastic lesion whereas in granulomatous lesions most common diagnosis was tuberculosis. The maximum lesions 74 (49%) were in maxillary antrum. The most common clinical presentation was nasal obstruction, with unilateral nasal obstruction seen in 84 (56%) cases and bilateral nasal obstruction in 50 (33.3%) cases. Angiofibroma 6 (4%) was exclusively seen in adolescent males. Olfactory neuroblastoma 4 (2.6%) was diagnosed in females with mean age of presentation of 30 years. Sinonasal lesions display a complex and interesting spectrum of clinical, radiological and histopathologic features. The non-neoplastic lesions are numerous, the morphologic variants of neoplasms are many and most of them present as polypoid masses which are impossible to distinguish clinically. Hence a proper workup including histopathological and radiological categorization is essential in the management of these lesions.

Ten years of experience in clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal pathologies in Yazd, Iran

Introduction

Although there are some studies regarding the clinical characteristics and outcome of nasopharyngeal tumors, one such study from Iran has not been reported to date. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features, treatment, and consequences of nasopharyngeal lesions.

Methods

In this cross sectional study, we conducted a retrospective review of patients who were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal pathologies and treated at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital and Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiotherapy Center in Yazd, Iran, over a period of 10 years (from 2005 to 2014). The variables in the study were the patient’s hospital registration number, date, name, age, gender, address, topography, clinical symptoms, morphology, stage, types of treatment, and survival for each subject. Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression method. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS, version 22.

Results

In the study, there were 123 patients, 85 males and 38 females, who had nasopharyngeal lesions. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.51 ± 20.33 years. There were 83 patients with malignant neoplasms and 40 patients with non-malignant lesions. The most common malignant tumor was nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the most common benign lesion was angiofibroma. Survival analysis was performed for the 83 patients who had malignant neoplasms, and survival was found to be 94.5 ± 4.32 months. There were significant differences in survival based on the stage of the disease, histological type, and the type of treatment (p = 0.001, 0.02, and 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

In our institutional study, malignant tumors were more common than benign lesions. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented relatively late and at an advanced stage. Regular follow-up is necessary for early detection, recurrence, or metastases of malignant tumors.

A Rare Cause of Nasal Obstruction: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Introduction. Renal cell carcinoma can present with several interesting symptoms, paraneoplastic syndromes, and unusual metastatic sites. Head and neck region is one of the rare locations for renal cell carcinoma metastasis. Case Report. A 50-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with nasal congestion and snoring. Physical examination revealed nasal serous secretion. First taken biopsy was misinterpreted. The symptoms of the patient were not revealed and he was readmitted to the hospital. On radiologic examination, a vascular rich mass in maxillary sinus extending to the nasal cavity was observed. Biopsy was diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma metastasis. Herein, we present a patient with renal cell carcinoma presenting nasal obstruction and snoring as first and recurrent symptom.

Nasopharyngeal polyp causing sensory disturbances: a case report

Nasopharyngeal polyps are benign abnormal mucosal protrusions associated with nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. They are commonly found in all age groups with various symptoms. This paper presents a case of a 52-year-old male who presented with constant numbness over the dental midline and extending along the right side of the maxilla for the past few weeks. The patient also reported difficulty in breathing, especially lying down. After a comprehensive head and neck examination, including muscle palpation and temporomandibular joint examination, all within normal limits, a CNS lesion was suspected. A cranial nerve screening examination disclosed hyposensitivity in the area of teeth # 7 to 10. A panoramic radiograph demonstrated right sinus abnormality. We determined the need for additional diagnostic testing, including cone beam computed tomography, which showed a thickened sinus membrane with a polypoid structure (extending posterior from the right inferior concha into the oropharynx). The patient was referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for further evaluation. The ENT diagnosis was a nasal polyp, and the patient was prescribed a steroid spray to be used three times daily. On follow-up, the patient’s symptoms were reduced from constant numbness to intermittent “fading sensation” with no breathing difficulties lying down. Ancillary diagnostic testing, such as Cone Beam CT, is useful and may be required for the diagnosis of sensory disturbances in the Orofacial region.

[Nasosinusal malignant tumors: about 32 cases and literature reviews]

Sous l’appellation tumeurs malignes naso-sinusiennes est regroupé un vaste éventail de tumeurs, aux histologies et localisations variées, mais aux tableaux cliniques souvent similaires. Le diagnostic de ces tumeurs est difficile, nécessitant une approche multidisciplinaire, à savoir oto-rhino-laryngologique, radiologique et anatomopathologique. Notre étude rétrospective concerne 32 cas de tumeurs malignes naso-sinusiennes, colligées au service d’ORL de l’hôpital militaire Avicenne de Marrakech, entre Janvier 2004 et Décembre 2014. L’analyse des données a noté que la fréquence des tumeurs épithéliales (75% des cas) était supérieure à celle des tumeurs non épithéliales (25% des cas), avec en tête de file l’adénocarcinome de l’ethmoïde (31,25%) et le carcinome épidermoïde du sinus maxillaire (18,75%). Ces tumeurs surviennent le plus souvent chez le sujet âgé avec une moyenne d’âge de 52 ans et une répartition équitable entre les deux sexes. Le délai de consultation moyen était de 12 mois avec une symptomatologie dominée par un syndrome nasosinusien (71,8%), associé dans certains cas à des signes ophtalmologiques (12,5%) ou neurologiques (15,6%). Tous nos patients ont bénéficié d’un examen clinique notamment endoscopique, d’une exploration radiologique des tumeurs et de leurs extensions, et d’une confirmation diagnostique par un examen anatomopathologique. Le traitement a consisté en une exérèse chirurgicale de la tumeur dès que cela était possible, soit dans 81,3% des cas (26 patients), généralement complété par un traitement adjuvant radio-chimiothérapique (77%). Le suivi à un an de nos patients a permis de noter une bonne évolution pour 08 d’entre eux (25%), une récidive dans 6 cas (18,75%), le décès de neuf patients (28,1%), et l’absence d’information concernant les autres cas (28,1%).