Esthesioneuroblastoma: a meta-analysis and review

Esthesioneuroblastoma: an update on the massachusetts eye and ear infirmary and massachusetts general hospital experience with craniofacial resection, proton beam radiation, and chemotherapy

Objectives To update the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) experience in the management of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) with multimodality therapy and to reassess treatment outcomes and complications in a larger cohort with longer follow-up times. Design A retrospective chart review. Setting A tertiary referral center. Participants All patients presenting with ENB and managed at the MGH and MEEI from 1997 to 2013. Main Outcome Measures Disease-free and overall survival. Results Twenty-two patients were identified with an average follow-up of 73 months. Ten patients presented with Kadish stage B disease and 12 with stage C disease. A total of six patients (27%) developed regional metastases. Treatment for all patients included craniofacial resection (CFR) followed by proton beam irradiation with or without chemotherapy. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 86.4% and 95.2%, respectively, by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Negative margins were a significant factor in disease-free survival. One patient experienced severe late-radiation toxicity. Conclusions ENB is safely and effectively treated with CFR followed by proton beam irradiation. The high incidence of regional metastases warrants strong consideration for elective neck irradiation. Proton beam radiation is associated with lower rates of severe late-radiation toxicity than conventional radiotherapy.

Stereotactic radiosurgical salvage treatment for locally recurrent esthesioneuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare malignant neuroendocrine tumor considered to be radiation sensitive. Local recurrence may be treated in a variety of ways, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); however, little information on its effectiveness is available.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether SRS is effective in providing local control for recurrent ENB.

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-institution experience including 109 patients with ENB treated at the Mayo Clinic (1962-2009). Sixty-three patients presented with Kadish stage C disease, and 21 patients developed local recurrence. Of these 21 patients, 7 patients underwent SRS at our institution and an additional patient underwent SRS after transnasal biopsy. Therefore, a total of 8 patients are reported.

RESULTS

The median age at time of local recurrence was 50 years. All patients had Kadish C disease at initial diagnosis. Six of 8 patients were found to have Hyams grade 3 disease; the remaining 2 patients had grade 2 disease. The median treatment volume was 8.4 cm (mean, 18.9 cm; range, 1.4-76.3 cm), and the median dose to the tumor margin was 15 Gy (mean, 14.4 ± 2.2 Gy; range, 10-18 Gy). Of the 16 treatments, 13 had adequate follow-up to assess treatment response, with 92% achieving local control over a median follow-up of 42 months from the time of SRS. Five lesions decreased in size, 7 lesions stabilized, and only 1 lesion had in-field progression. There were no documented complications secondary to SRS.

CONCLUSION

SRS appears to be a reasonable and safe option for treatment of intracranial recurrence of ENB.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: one of the causes of proptosis

Esthesioneuroblatoma (Olfactory neuroblastoma) is a rare malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory epithelium with bimodal age distribution between with first peak in second decades and second peak in sixth decade. Proptosis due to esthesioneuroblastoma is one of the rare causes. They have a long natural history characterized by frequent local or regional recurrence. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the imaging modalities for diagnosing these tumors. A multidisciplinary approach with surgery and radiation therapy is an excellent treatment options for these tumors with chemotherapy being used to treat advanced or recurrent disease.

Orbital preservation in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma

Objectives Surgical resection in addition to adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). However, management of patients with orbital involvement remains controversial. Historically, orbital exenteration has been advocated when there is evidence of periorbital invasion. Recently, the indications for orbital exenteration have become more selective and orbital preservation has been advocated. We report our experience with anterior craniofacial resection and orbital preservation in patients with ENB. Design Retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma who underwent traditional open anterior craniofacial resection at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Cranial Base Center from 1997 to 2008. Results Sixteen patients were identified with a mean follow-up of 76 months. All patients underwent anterior craniofacial resection via an open approach and adjuvant proton beam radiation. Six of the 16 patients had evidence of either periorbital or lacrimal sac involvement at the time of surgery. All of these patients underwent periorbital resection to negative histologic margins with preservation of the orbit. Conclusion In our study, patients with ENB and periorbital invasion-who were treated with anterior craniofacial resection and periorbital resection with orbital preservation-had no evidence of decreased survival. In all patients, negative histologic margins of the periorbital resection were achieved.

[Esthesioneuroblastoma]

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy originating from olfactive epithelium. Men are more frequently affected than women. Nasal symptoms are the most common revealing signs. Immunohistochemistry helps diagnosis. There is no randomized trial evaluating treatment due to the low incidence of this tumor. Radiotherapy and surgery are the standard of care. Radiotherapy is benefic even in early stage disease. Chemotherapy is indicated in case of locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Vertebral column metastases from an esthesioneuroblastoma: chemotherapy, radiation, and resection for recurrence with 15-year followup

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon aggressive malignant intranasal neoplasm that originates from neural crest cells of the olfactory epithelium. Although local invasion to the sinuses is common, spinal metastasis of ENB is rare with only 28 documented cases involving the spine spinal cord, or leptomeninges. We report a case of ENB with multiple drop metastases to the cervical and thoracic spine, and review the patient's disease, medical history, and multiple interventions during a span of 15 years following the initial cranial resection. Despite aggressive multiple surgical resections, radiation, and chemotherapy, the tumor had significant progression and recurrence. The literature is reviewed, followed by a discussion of the natural progression of the disease and various reported interventions. Although a combination of surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy has been recommended, no definitive management has been established for ENB. Further research is needed to determine decisive treatment for metastatic ENB to the spine.

Low- and high-grade esthesioneuroblastomas display a distinct natural history and outcome

PURPOSE

Esthesioneuroblastomas, also called olfactory neuroblastomas (ENB) represent a rare sinonasal neurectodermal tumour which prognostic factors are unsteadily described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed in patients treated at Gustave Roussy Institute between 1979 and 2009.

RESULTS

Out of 63 patients, 19 patients were reclassified and 44 patients were eligible for the analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that T staging of the modified Dulguerov TNM staging and Hyams grade>III (that we termed high-grade ENB) were the only independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). As compared to patients with low-grade ENB (Hyams grade ≤ III), patients with high-grade ENB have higher T4 staging (p=0.02), have frequent lymph node involvement (p=0.009) and are more often unresectable (p=0.005). Resected patients with high-grade ENB frequently displayed mainly leptomeningeal metastasis (n=4/6) in contrast to patients with low-grade ENB who typically experience late loco-regional recurrence (n=10/25). With a median follow-up of 9.6 years, median DFS and OS for resected low-grade ENB were 5.4 and 20.5 years, respectively. Conversely, median DFS and OS for high-grade ENB were 1.5 and 2.5 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Low and high-grade ENB display distinct patterns at presentation and relapse, leading to different prognosis. Therefore, they may be regarded as distinct entities.

Esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant neoplasm in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity and anterior skull base. Diagnosis and staging require anatomic imaging and careful pathologic assessment. Standard treatment is anterior craniofacial resection with postoperative irradiation. The role for chemotherapy is not defined, but is generally for the most advanced cases and used in the neoadjuvant setting and/or postoperatively with irradiation. Prognosis is favorable; however, metastasis rates remain relatively high. Regional and distant metastasis portends a poor outcome. Intensity-modulated radiation treatment and endoscopic surgery have reduced morbidity, but outcomes with these techniques must be fully evaluated.

Radiosurgery with photons or protons for benign and malignant tumours of the skull base: a review

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an important treatment option for intracranial lesions. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of photon-SRS for the treatment of skull base (SB) tumours; however, limited data are available for proton-SRS.Several photon-SRS techniques, including Gamma Knife, modified linear accelerators (Linac) and CyberKnife, have been developed and several studies have compared treatment plan characteristics between protons and photons.The principles of classical radiobiology are similar for protons and photons even though they differ in terms of physical properties and interaction with matter resulting in different dose distributions.Protons have special characteristics that allow normal tissues to be spared better than with the use of photons, although their potential clinical superiority remains to be demonstrated.A critical analysis of the fundamental radiobiological principles, dosimetric characteristics, clinical results, and toxicity of proton- and photon-SRS for SB tumours is provided and discussed with an attempt of defining the advantages and limits of each radiosurgical technique.

Endoscopic endonasal compared with anterior craniofacial and combined cranionasal resection of esthesioneuroblastomas

OBJECTIVE

Esthesioneuroblastomas represent a surgical challenge because of their anatomical location, the necessity of achieving negative margins, and the often-cosmetically disfiguring transfacial approaches needed. Recently, expanded endonasal endoscopic approaches have been developed, either alone or in combination with a craniotomy. We conducted a systematic review of case series and case reports to compare outcomes between these various surgical approaches.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search was conducted of the modern literature (1985-2010) to identify open and endoscopic surgical series. Tumor and patient characteristics, Kadish stage, extent of resection, and progression-free and overall survival were recorded and analyzed by approach. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess overall survival and progression-free survival.

RESULTS

Forty-seven studies comprising 453 patients were included. The endoscopic cohort had a greater proportion of Kadish Stage A tumors compared with the craniofacial group. Gross total resection was achieved in 98.1% of patients who underwent an endoscopic approach compared with 81.3% for the craniofacial and 100% for the cranionasal cohorts. Local recurrence occurred in 8.0% of patients in the endoscopic group compared with 22.1% in the craniofacial and 16.7% in the cranionasal cohorts.

CONCLUSION

In well-selected cases, cranionasal and endonasal approaches can be safe and effective. An ongoing evaluation of the benefits and limitations are necessary to better define the ideal patient population and patient-specific risk factors for the use of these minimal access techniques.

Treatment modalities and outcomes of olfactory neuroblastoma

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To analyze the clinical features of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) and compare the treatment results according to various treatment modalities, and to validate various staging systems.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

METHODS

This study included 35 patients with ONB. Treatment consisted of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (seven patients), traditional craniofacial resection (TCFR, 12 patients), endoscopic craniofacial resection with craniotomy (ECFR, 11 patients), and transnasal endoscopic resection without craniotomy (five patients). The overall mean follow-up period was 64.9 months and mean disease-free survival (DFS) was 50.2 months.

RESULTS

Five-year overall survival and 5-year DFS rates were 76.0% and 61.8%, respectively. Five-year DFS rates for nonsurgical treatment, TCFR, ECFR, and transnasal endoscopic resection without craniotomy group were 35.7%, 41.7%, 80.8%, and 100%, respectively (P = .01). Neck metastasis negatively affected survival (P = .03). DFS rate of patients in the endoscopic surgery group was higher than the nonendoscopic surgery group on Cox multivariate regression analysis (P = .02). The modified Kadish classification system predicted DFS more accurately than the Biller and Dulguerov classification system (P = .04). Locoregional recurrence occurred in 23% (period of recurrence after treatment, mean 49 months; range, 3-143) of patients with ONB, and distant metastasis in 26%. ECRF group showed lesser perioperative bleeding amount and shorter operation time compared with TCFR. However, the admission period was not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic surgery for advanced ONB showed successful survival results compared with nonendoscopic surgery on multivariate analysis, and limited morbidities. Modified Kadish classification best predicted DFS for ONB. Long-term follow-up is necessary due to its late recurrence.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: a contemporary review of diagnosis and management

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare malignancy, representing only 3% to 6% of all sinonasal malignancies. A wide array of treatment options for ENB have been described in the literature, but prospective clinical trials are absent given the tumor's rarity and natural history. Delay in diagnosis leading to an initial advanced stage of presentation is common secondary to the clinically hidden primary site at the anterior skull base. This article presents data from the current body of literature and reviews the advocated roles for surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Endoscopic resection of esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma, or olfactory neuroblastoma, is an uncommon malignant tumor arising in the upper nasal cavity. Surgical approaches to this and other sinonasal malignancies involving the anterior skull base have traditionally involved craniofacial resections. Over the past 10 years to 15 years, there have been advances in endoscopic approaches to skull base pathologies, including malignant tumors. In this study, we review our experience with purely endoscopic approaches to esthesioneuroblastomas. Between January 2005 and February 2012, 11 patients (seven men and four women, average age 53.3 years) with esthesioneuroblastoma were treated endoscopically. Nine patients presented with newly diagnosed disease and two were treated for tumor recurrence. The modified Kadish staging was: A, two patients (18.2%); B, two patients (18.2%); C, five patients (45.5%); and D, two patients (18.2%). All patients had a complete resection with negative intraoperative margins. Three patients had 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-d-glucose avid neck nodes on their preoperative positron emission tomography-CT scan. These patients underwent neck dissections; two had positive neck nodes. Perioperative complications included an intraoperative hypertensive urgency and pneumocephalus in two different patients. Mean follow-up was over 28 months and all patients were free of disease. This series adds to the growing experience of purely endoscopic surgical approaches in the treatment of skull base tumors including esthesioneuroblastoma. Longer follow-up on larger numbers of patients is required to clarify the utility of purely endoscopic approaches in the management of this malignant tumor.

Sinonasal carcinomas: epidemiology, pathology, and management

Sinonasal carcinomas are uncommon neoplasms accounting for approximately 3% to 5% of all upper respiratory tract malignancies. Sinonasal malignancies in most cases do not cause early symptoms and present in an advanced stage of disease. Exact staging necessitates a clinical and endoscopic examination with biopsy and imaging. Tumor resection using an open or endoscopic approach is usually considered the first treatment option. In general, sinonasal carcinomas are radiosensitive, so adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiation treatment may be indicated in advanced disease. Multidisciplinary surgical and medical oncologic approaches, including ablation and reconstruction, have enhanced the survival outcome over the past few decades.

Salvage Treatment of Local Recurrence in Esthesioneuroblastoma: A Meta-analysis

Esthesioneuroblastoma has a local recurrence rate of ∼30%, but no standard regimen for salvage of local recurrence has been established. We report data from 678 patients from series published since 1990, with a risk reduction analysis of salvage with surgery, radiation, or combined surgery and radiation therapy. We found a 28.5% rate of local recurrence after treatment, and a 42.6% rate of successful salvage with surgery, radiation, or combined treatment. The odds ratio for successful salvage, defined as disease-free survival for at least 1 year, was not significantly different for combined surgery and radiation versus surgery alone or radiation alone or for surgery alone versus radiation alone. The salvage odds ratio for combined surgery and radiation therapy versus radiation therapy alone, 3.5, approached, but did not reach statistical significance. This study reveals a reasonable rate of successful salvage of local esthesioneuroblastoma recurrence using surgery, radiation, or combined surgery and radiation.

Gamma Knife® radiosurgery for recurrent intracranial olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma): a case report

Background

We report the use of salvage radiosurgery to manage an aggressive olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) with multiple recurrences and intracranial extension.

Case presentation

A 43-year-old Caucasian woman presented 11 years ago with progressive nasal blockage and headaches. A necrotic polyp originating in her left middle meatus and extending to the ethmoid air cells and cribriform plate (Kadish stage C) was radically resected via a craniofacial approach. Four years later, a local recurrence extending into her left cavernous sinus was identified and deemed inoperable. She received vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin and etoposide chemotherapy (with minimal benefit) and external beam radiotherapy (60Gy in 30 fractions) to her skull base. Two years later, tumour extension in her left neck was treated with radical radiotherapy. She developed visual disturbances in her left eye, which progressed to blindness in the next two years. Having exhausted chemoradiotherapy, the left cavernous sinus esthesioneuroblastoma was treated with Gamma Knife® radiosurgery 2 years ago (20Gy at 50% isodose, tumour volume 7.5cm³). At one year, there was dramatic reduction in the tumour and no new symptoms; however, there were new tumour foci (in her left frontal lobe and above her right orbital apex). These were again treated with radiosurgery (20Gy at 50% isodose, total tumour volume 0.67cm³). Repeat imaging at six months showed no further disease progression.

Conclusion

Whilst rare, olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) can present management challenges and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery may prove a useful strategy in controlling intracranial spread.

Aggressive inflammatory and neoplastic processes of the paranasal sinuses

Although uncommon, sinonasal malignancies and aggressive inflammatory processes are entities every radiologist will encounter during the evaluation of routine sinus imaging studies. A high index of suspicion is necessary for prompt diagnosis. It is important to consider aggressive inflammatory disease in all patients having routine sinus computed tomography because any delay in diagnosis can adversely affect the patients' care. Magnetic resonance (MR) will often provide a better assessment of the lesion extent, allowing for better surgical treatment. MR is crucial for the accurate assessment of neoplastic lesions. A proficient understanding of the complex anatomy of the region is essential.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ethmoid sinuses treated with radiotherapy alone

OBJECTIVE

We present the first report of a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses treated successfully with radiotherapy alone.

METHOD

A case report and literature review are presented.

RESULTS

Fewer than 50 cases of paranasal sinus neuroendocrine carcinoma have been reported. We present an 82-year-old man referred with recurrent epistaxis. He was investigated by biopsy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and was found to have a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma. He declined any surgery or chemotherapy but consented to radiotherapy. Thirty months later, he remained clinically free from cancer.

CONCLUSION

There is no consensus for the management of paranasal sinus neuroendocrine carcinoma. Most cases are treated with surgery with or without chemoradiotherapy. This case shows that radiotherapy alone may be a viable treatment option for some cases.

The added value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for evaluation of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in esthesioneuroblastoma staging and restaging and quantify the additional benefit of PET/CT to conventional imaging.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed with institutional review board approval for patients with a diagnosis of esthesioneuroblastoma who underwent PET/CT from 2000 to 2010. PET/CT results were retrospectively reviewed by 2 radiologists who were unaware of the clinical and imaging data. Positive imaging findings were classified into 3 categories: local disease, cervical nodal spread, and distant metastasis. All conventional imaging performed in the 6 mo preceding PET/CT, and the medical records, were reviewed to determine the potential added value.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients (mean age, 52.3 ± 10 y; range, 23-81 y) were identified who underwent a total of 77 PET/CT examinations. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was 8.68 ± 4.75 (range, 3.6-23.3) for the primary tumor and 8.57 ± 6.46 (range, 1.9-27.2) for the metastatic site. There was no clear association between primary tumor SUVmax and tumor grade (P = 0.30). Compared with conventional imaging, PET/CT changed disease stage or altered clinical management in 11 (39%) of 28 esthesioneuroblastoma patients. Of these, 10 (36%) of 28 were upstaged on the basis of their PET/CT studies. Cervical nodal metastases were found in 5 (18%) of 28, local recurrence in 2 (7%) of 28, cervical nodal and distant metastases in 2 (7%) of 28, and distant metastases in 1 (4%) of 28. One patient (4%) was downstaged after negative findings on PET/CT.

CONCLUSION

PET/CT is a useful adjunct to conventional imaging in the initial staging and restaging of esthesioneuroblastoma by detecting nodal and distant metastatic disease not demonstrated by conventional imaging and identifying local recurrence hidden by treatment changes on conventional imaging.

[Esthesioneuroblastoma. Transcribiform-transfovea ethmoidalis endonasal expanded approach. Technical note]

INTRODUCTION

We report a fully endoscopic transcribiform-transfovea ethmoidalis endonasal expanded approach (EEA) for the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma and review the literature about this entity available in English, establishing a precise surgical technique and describing our intraoperative experience.

CASE REPORT

Our patient was a 65-year old female with anosmia and cognitive deterioration. Cranial MRI showed a large tumoral lesion with solid and cystic components involving the nasal cavity, with diagnostic suspicion of intracranial malignant sinonasal tumour. The patient underwent a fully endoscopic transcribiform-transfovea ethmoidalis EEA, achieving total resection and tumour-free margins. Surgery was followed by radiotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Craniofacial resection enables total removal of sinonasal malignancies, even when the intracranial cavity is involved, and allows for subarachnoid space isolation from the nasal cavity. New advances in endoscopic skull base surgery have achieved comparable oncological results and sufficient reconstructive capacity, leading to less morbidity and better tolerance.

CONCLUSION

EEA may become the first treatment option for skull base malignancies in an immediate future, provided that the anatomical limits of the extended approach are not exceeded by the lesion.

Unexpectedly durable palliation of metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma using anti-angiogenic therapy with Bevacizumab

Olfactory neuroblastomas (ONBs) are rare malignant tumors that arise from olfactory epithelium and typically present with symptoms attributable to locally invasive disease. Kadish radiographic staging and Hyams' histopathologic grading are prognostic. Overall survival rates, averaging 60–70% at 5 years, remain limited by high rates of delayed loco-regional and distant progression. At initial presentation, the available evidence supports the use of multimodality therapy, historically surgery and radiation, to improve disease-free and overall survival. At recurrence/progression, the available evidence supports the use of therapy to improve disease control and symptoms (palliation), but patient heterogeneity dictates individualization of modalities. Although the ideal use of chemotherapy as a modality remains undefined, the available evidence supports it use, historically platinum-based, for palliation. However, recent insights into the molecular-genetic aberrations of ONBs, coupled with the emergence chemotherapeutic agents capable of targeting such aberrations, suggest an expanded role. The authors report a case of a 60 years-old man, heavily pre-treated for metastatic ONB, presenting with profound central-nerve-system and head-and-neck symptoms. He experienced unexpectedly durable palliation with Bevacizumab anti-angiogenic therapy. Additionally, he experienced localized palliation with an Ommaya reservoir. The authors review the literature regarding historical and emerging therapies for ONB to emphasize the needs for individualization and translational-clinical studies.

Craniofacial surgery for esthesioneuroblastoma: report of an international collaborative study

Introduction Impact of treatment and prognostic indicators of outcome are relatively ill-defined in esthesioneuroblastomas (ENB) because of the rarity of these tumors. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of craniofacial resection (CFR) on outcome of ENB. Patients and Methods Data on 151 patients who underwent CFR for ENB were collected from 17 institutions that participated in an international collaborative study. Patient, tumor, treatment, and outcome data were collected by questionnaires and variables were analyzed for prognostic impact on overall, disease-specific and recurrence-free survival. The majority of tumors were staged Kadish stage C (116 or 77%). Overall, 90 patients (60%) had received treatment before CFR, radiation therapy in 51 (34%), and chemotherapy in 23 (15%). The margins of surgical resection were reported positive in 23 (15%) patients. Adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy was used in 51 (34%) and chemotherapy in 9 (6%) patients. Results Treatment-related complications were reported in 49 (32%) patients. With a median follow-up of 56 months, the 5-year overall, disease-specific, and recurrence-free survival rates were 78, 83, and 64%, respectively. Intracranial extension of the disease and positive surgical margins were independent predictors of worse overall, disease-specific, and recurrence-free survival on multivariate analysis. Conclusion This collaborative study of patients treated at various institutions across the world demonstrates the efficacy of CFR for ENB. Intracranial extension of disease and complete surgical excision were independent prognostic predictors of outcome.

Primary sellar neuroblastoma. A new case and review of literature

The primary intracranial development of olfactory neuroblastomas, outside olfactory epithelium, is rare. We report a case of primary sellar neuroblastoma without any aggressive histopathological features, managed solely surgically without adjuvant therapy, with good outcomes at 3 years. Primary sellar neuroblastomas mostly occur in women in the 4th decade with a context of a non-secreting pituitary tumour. Diagnosis is made on histopathological examination (small cells, fibrillary intercellular background, strong immunoreactivity for neurons markers, negative immunoreactivity for anterior pituitary hormones). Management is based on surgery. Adjuvant treatment is not consensual, largely depends on patient's conditions and aggressive histopathological features.

Esthesioneuroblastoma in pediatric and adolescent age. A report from the TREP project in cooperation with the Italian Neuroblastoma and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committees

Background

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare, aggressive tumor with no established treatment in children. We analyzed a series of pediatric ENB patients with the aim of improving our knowledge of this disease.

Methods

9 patients (6 males; age 0.9-18 years, median 9.9) were identified by searching the AIEOP (Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) registry and the national databases of rare tumors, soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and neuroblastomas. The data on the cases included in STS treatment protocols were collected prospectively and histology was centrally reviewed; the data and histology concerning the other children were reviewed for the purpose of this analysis.

Results

All tumors occurred in the sinonasal region with bone erosion (7 patients) and intracranial (4) or intraorbital (4) extension. Three patients were in Kadish stage B, and 6 in stage C. Complete tumor resection was very difficult to achieve, but adding chemotherapy and radiotherapy enabled tumor control in 8 patients. Response to chemotherapy was evident in 5/7 evaluable cases. Radiotherapy (48.5-60 Gy) was delivered in all children but one, due to early disease progression. With a median follow-up of 13.4 years (range 9.2-22.9), 7 patients are alive in 1^st and one in 2nd complete remission. All surviving patients developed treatment-related sequelae, the most frequent being endocrine dysfunctions (4 patients) and craniofacial growth impairments (4 patients).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm that ENB in children has an aggressive presentation, but multimodal therapy can cure most patients. Our results are encouraging but future strategies must optimize treatment in terms of survival and related morbidities.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma

OBJECTIVE

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) has been reported as a paraneoplastic syndrome in many different types of malignancies. Several case reports of SIADH have been reported in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), but the exact incidence is unknown. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with olfactory neuroblastoma and to identify all patients who had a history of SIADH prior to the diagnosis of ONB.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series and chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care university-affiliated medical center.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 21 patients presented to our institution with ONB between 1997 and 2009. All records were reviewed for a history of preoperative hyponatremia or SIADH.

RESULTS

Three patients were identified who had a history of SIADH prior to the diagnosis of ONB. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor specimens from the 3 patients with SIADH was positive for arginine vasopressin. SIADH resolved in all 3 patients after successful treatment of ONB.

CONCLUSION

Although uncommon, SIADH can be the presenting symptom of ONB and should be considered during the workup for idiopathic SIADH.

Nasal and paranasal esthesioneuroblastomas: clinical outcomes

Esthesioneuroblastomas (ENB) are rare tumours derived from the olfactory epithelium. Based on their experience and a review of the literature, the authors tried to identify the epidemiological, clinical, histological and therapeutic factors that influence overall and disease-free survival in their series of ENB.

METHODS

This retrospective study concerned eleven patients treated in a single institution for ENB of the nasal cavity and sinuses between 1978 and 2006. The data collected were submitted to statistical analysis using R 2.0(®) software. Overall survival and disease-free survival were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were identified by Log-Rank test.

RESULTS

This series comprised three women (27.2%) and eight men (72.8%) (sex ratio: 2.6). The mean age at diagnosis was 56 years (range: 37-69 years). No risk factors were identified in this cohort. The mean follow-up was 110.2 months (range: 7-348 months). This series included three T1 (27.3%), one T2 (9.1%), four T3 (36.3%) and three T4 (27.3%) tumours. The 1-year, 5-year and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 81.8%, 54.5% and 18.2%, and the corresponding overall survival rates were 100%, 90% and 60%, respectively. The main prognostic factors reported in the literature are tumour stage at diagnosis, adjuvant radiotherapy and radiation dose.

CONCLUSION

ENB are characterized by a high recurrence rate and recurrences can occur a very long time after the diagnosis, indicating the need for prolonged follow-up of these patients. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates are about 90% and 60%, respectively.

Endoscopic skull base surgery: a comprehensive comparison with open transcranial approaches

Little data exists comparing endoscopic endonasal approaches to pathology of the anterior skull base with more traditional transcranial and transsphenoidal microscopic approaches. In order to more fully characterize the role of endoscopy in the management of pathology of the anterior cranial base, we conducted a systematic review of case series and case reports documenting surgical and clinical outcomes. We found that for craniopharyngiomas, clival chordomas, esthesioneuroblastomas and giant pituitary adenomas, the endonasal endoscopic approach can result in equivalent or higher rates of gross total resection than open approaches. For meningiomas, however, open transcranial approaches are still able to achieve higher rates of total resection. CSF leak rates are higher for patients undergoing endoscopic surgery for meningiomas and craniopharyngiomas, but not for chordomas, esthesioneuroblastomas or giant pituitary adenomas. In certain patients, the endonasal endoscopic approach may be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of a wide variety of skull base pathology, particularly those with small midline tumours.

Endoscopic skull base surgery for sinonasal malignancy

Management of malignant neoplasms of the sinonasal tract and skull base is hampered by the relative low incidence and pathologic diversity of patient presentations. Many studies have reported successful outcomes in the endoscopic management of malignancy since 1996, and these are summarized in this article. Nonsurgical adjuvant therapies are important for locoregional control because surgery occurs in a restricted anatomic space with close margins to critical structures, and distant disease is an ongoing concern in these disorders. There remains a need for collaborative consistent multicenter reporting, and international registries have been established to assist in such efforts.

Olfactory neuroblastoma treated by endoscopic surgery followed by combined external beam radiation and gamma knife for optic nerve and chiasm sparing: a case report

We describe the multimodality treatment regimen of a 53-year-old man diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma (Kadish stage C) in the right nasal cavity extending into the ethmoid sinus and across the cribriform plate. Endoscopic surgery for tumor resection was followed by a combination of external beam radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery boost with concurrent chemotherapy. The novel combination of dual radiation therapies allowed for the preservation of the nearby optic structures while providing an adequate dosage to a sufficient volume of the afflicted tissue.

Late occurrence of drop metastasis to the spine in a case of esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an aggressive neuroectodermal tumor that originates from the olfactory mucosa and often recurs locally. Distant metastasis of esthesioneuroblastoma has been described, but there are few reports of drop metastasis to the spinal cord. Here, we report a case of multiple drop metastases to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spinal cord that occurred 18 years after resection and radiotherapy of the original anterior cranial fossa lesion. There was no evidence of local recurrence. The symptomatic lesion was treated with resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. The options available for treatment of this disease are summarized with a review of the few reported cases of spinal metastasis of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Esthesioneuroblastoma in an HIV-1 Infected Patient: Case Report

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon malignant tumor derived from the specialized neuroepithelium of the upper nasal cavity. The largest case series and meta-analyses suggest the combination of surgery and radiotherapy as the gold standard treatment for ENB. However, an increasing number of case series have reported excellent survival and few complications with minimally invasive endoscopic resection (MIER) in conjunction with radiotherapy of EBN in early stages of the disease. In this case report, the authors describe the first case of ENB in a young adult man who was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected. The authors discuss all the aspects of this rare disease, focusing on treatment options and prognosis.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: Results and Outcomes of a Single Institution's Experience

OBJECTIVES

Analysis of outcomes of a cohort of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis.

SETTING

PATIENTS presenting with esthesioneuroblastoma from 1994 to 2006 in a tertiary care academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Fifteen consecutive patients diagnosed as having esthesioneuroblastoma were treated during this time period using a subcranial resection. The mean follow-up is 75 months (range, 2 to 240 mos).

RESULTS

The overall survival was 100% and the overall disease-free survival was 49% and 24% at 5 and 15 years, respectively. PATIENTS treated with radiation therapy following surgical resection had a 5- and 15-year disease-free survival of 83.3% compared with a 5- and 15-year disease-free survival of 26.7% and 0%, respectively, for patients whose initial treatment was surgery alone. The mean time to recurrence was 82.1 months. None of the patients had a decrease in Karnofsky Performance Score following subcranial resection.

CONCLUSIONS

PATIENTS with esthesioneuroblastoma whose initial treatment consists of surgical resection followed by radiation therapy have a longer disease-free survival than patients treated with surgery alone. However, initial treatment modality did not have an effect on survival. Long-term, close follow-up is necessary to identify recurrences, which can be treated with a high degree of success.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: the massachusetts eye and ear infirmary and massachusetts general hospital experience with craniofacial resection, proton beam radiation, and chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of craniofacial resection and proton radiation for the management of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB).

DESIGN

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients presenting with ENB and completely managed at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) from 1997 to 2006.

SETTING

A tertiary referral center.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Disease-free and overall survival.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients presenting with ENB and completely managed at the MGH and the MEEI from 1997 to 2006.

RESULTS

Ten patients were identified with a median follow-up time of 52.8 months. Average age at presentation was 45 years. Nasal obstruction was the most common presenting symptom. Three patients presented with Kadish stage B disease and seven with stage C. No patient had evidence of cervical or metastatic disease at presentation. Seven patients were treated with craniofacial resections (CFR) followed by proton beam radiation with or without chemotherapy. Three patients were treated with initial chemotherapy with no response. They subsequently underwent CFR followed by proton beam radiation. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 90% and 85.7%, respectively, by Kaplan-Meier analysis. No patient suffered any severe radiation toxicity.

CONCLUSION

ENB can be safely and effectively treated with CFR followed by proton beam irradiation. Proton irradiation may be associated with less toxicity than photon irradiation. The role of chemotherapy remains unclear.

Cushing's Syndrome: An Unusual Presentation of Olfactory Neuroblastoma

A 48-year-old man presented with symptoms consistent with Cushing's syndrome. Subsequent laboratory studies revealed markedly elevated adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) and cortisol levels, as well as a hypoklemic metabolic alkalosis. A pituitary MRI was performed, which revealed a normal pituitary; however, a large mass was seen centered in the ethmoid and paranasal sinuses with a significant amount of extension into surrounding structures. A biopsy was performed and pathology of the specimen was consistent with esthesioneuroblastoma. Immunohistochemical staining further defined the tumor as an ACTH-secreting esthesioneuroblastoma. After total resection of the mass and further treatment with adjuvant radiation therapy, the patient's symtoms completely resolved and the ACTH and cortisol levels were also greatly reduced. This case demonstrates the successful diagnosis and treatment of a rare neoplasm. Ectopic ACTH syndrome due to esthesioneuroblastoma is extremely uncommon with only five other cases being discussed in the literature.

Olfactory neuroblastomas: an experience of 24 years

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathological findings and the efficacy of the treatment modalities used in patients with olfactory neuroblastomas. Study Design. Retrospective record review. Setting. Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, medical oncology outpatient clinic. Subjects and Methods. There were 3 stage A tumors, 5 stage B and 11 stage C according to the Kadish staging system. There were 5 grade I/II and 12 grade III/IV according to the Hyams' histopathologic system. Involvement to orbita was detected in eight patients at the time of diagnosis. Results. The median follow-up period was 23.7 months. The 5-year survival rate for the whole group was 26%. The stage A/B groups exhibited a better survival rate than the C group with 2-year survival rates being 25 versus 71% respectively (P = .008). The grade I/II groups exhibited a better survival rate than the grade III/IV groups with 2-year survival rates being 50 versus 16% respectively (P = .001). The group who had orbital involvement exhibited a poor survival rate than the group of patients who had no involvement of the orbital. Conclusion. In our study, tumor stage, histopathologic grading, involvement of the orbita, brain and bone marow metastases were the statistically significant prognostic factors.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: is there a need for elective neck treatment?

PURPOSE

To assess the risk of cervical lymph node metastases after definitive treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) that did not include elective neck therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This was a retrospective analysis of 26 ENB patients treated at the University of Michigan between 1995 and 2007. Tumor stage was Kadish A in 1 patient, B in 19, C in 5, and unknown in 1. Craniofacial or subcranial resection was performed in 24 patients (92%), with negative margins in 22 (92%). Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) to the primary site was given in 12 patients (46%), and 14 patients (54%) had surgery alone. All patients had clinically N0 disease, and no patient underwent elective neck dissection or radiation. Median follow-up was 72 months.

RESULTS

Local relapse-free survival was significantly better for patients who received postoperative RT compared with those who had surgery alone: 100% vs. 29% at 5 years, respectively (p = 0.005). Five-year disease-free survival was 87.5% in the RT group vs. 31% in the surgery-alone group (p = 0.05). Regional failure was observed in 7 patients (27%), 6 with Kadish Stage B and 1 with Stage C disease. The most common site of nodal failure was Level II, and 3 patients failed in the contralateral neck. Only 3 patients with regional failure were successfully salvaged.

CONCLUSION

The high rate of regional failures when the neck is not electively treated justifies elective nodal RT in patients with both Kadish Stages B and C. In addition, our experience confirms the beneficial effect on local control of adjuvant RT to the tumor bed.

Endonasal endoscopic resection of esthesioneuroblastoma: the Johns Hopkins Hospital experience and review of the literature

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignant tumor originating in the upper nasal cavity. The surgical treatment for this tumor has traditionally been via an open craniofacial resection. Over the past decade, there has been tremendous development in endoscopic techniques. In this report, we performed a retrospective analysis of patients with esthesioneuroblastomas treated with a purely endonasal endoscopic approach and resection at the Johns Hopkins Hospital between January 2005 and April 2010. A total of eight patients with esthesioneuroblastoma, five men and three women, were identified. Six patients were treated for primary disease, and two were treated for tumor recurrence. The modified Kadish staging was A in one patient (12.5%), B in two patients (25%), C in four patients (50%), and D in one patient (12.5%). All patients had a complete resection with negative intraoperative margins. One patient had intraoperative hypertension; there were no perioperative complications. With a mean follow-up of over 27 months, all patients are without evidence of disease. In addition, we reviewed the literature and identified several overlapping case series of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated via a purely endoscopic technique. Our series adds to the growing experience of expanded endonasal endoscopic surgery in the treatment of skull base tumors including esthesioneuroblastoma. Longer follow-up on a larger number of patients is required to further demonstrate the utility of endoscopic approaches in the management of this malignancy.

Long-term results of 28 esthesioneuroblastomas managed over 35 years

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to assess the long-term results in the management of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma.

METHODS

A total of 28 patients were retrospectively reviewed to analyze their clinical features, treatment outcomes, pattern of failures, and course of the disease.

RESULTS

The patients were classified as 2 patients with T1, 10 patients with T2, 10 patients with T3, and 6 patients with T4; the results of all were included in this study. Twenty-six patients underwent surgery and 23 had postoperative radiotherapy over the tumor bed, only 9 had radiotherapy over the nodes. The average follow-up was 99.11 months. Fifteen-year and 20-year disease-specific and disease-free survival rates were 88.6% to 66.4% and 59.6% to 29.8%, respectively. Six patients had recurrences and 60% of them occurred more than 10 years after treatment. In the first decade, nodal recurrences appeared earlier than local ones when patients with N0 did not undergo neck irradiation.

CONCLUSION

Surgery on patients with T presentations and adjuvant radiotherapy on T and N0 neck presentations seem to be essential to treat esthesioneuroblastoma. A follow-up for a minimum of 20 years is necessary to ensure complete cure.

Improved survival following surgery and radiation therapy for olfactory neuroblastoma: analysis of the SEER database

Background

Olfactory Neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the olfactory tract. Reports in the literature comparing treatment modalities for this tumor are limited.

Methods

The SEER database (1973-2006) was queried by diagnosis code to identify patients with Olfactory Neuroblastoma. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate survival distributions based on treatment modality. Differences in survival distributions were determined by the log-rank test. A Cox multiple regression analysis was then performed using treatment, race, SEER historic stage, sex, age at diagnosis, year at diagnosis and SEER geographic registry.

Results

A total of 511 Olfactory Neuroblastoma cases were reported. Five year overall survival, stratified by treatment modality was: 73% for surgery with radiotherapy, 68% for surgery only, 35% for radiotherapy only, and 26% for neither surgery nor radiotherapy. There was a significant difference in overall survival between the four treatment groups (p < 0.01). At ten years, overall survival stratified by treatment modality and stage, there was no significant improvement in survival with the addition of radiation to surgery.

Conclusions

Best survival results were obtained for surgery with radiotherapy.

Current diagnostic strategies for undifferentiated tumours of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses

Several malignant tumours occurring in the sinonasal tract may present with an undifferentiated morphology. Overall, these lesions pose significant diagnostic difficulties for the surgical pathologist, especially in limited biopsy material, but their correct classification is becoming increasingly important for an appropriate treatment strategy. This review deals with the criteria for differential diagnosis of these neoplasms, with emphasis on recent advances in immunohistochemistry and molecular biology, as well as with previous progress in electron microscopy. Through careful microscopic examination of haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, in the light of clinical information and imaging data, a list of differential diagnoses can be made and an appropriate panel of antibodies can be chosen to further categorize the tumour. An initial panel including cytokeratins, synaptophysin, S100 protein, desmin and CD45 may allow the classification of most lesions or may help to narrow the list of differential diagnoses. Further refinement can be obtained through second-line markers, including in-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus, other neuroendocrine markers, melanocytic markers, myogenin, CD99, other lymphocyte markers, and CD138 and light chains. Finally, molecular analysis can further assist in the recognition of specific entities such as nuclear protein in testis midline carcinoma, Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumour, alveolar rhadbomyosarcoma, and poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the setting of locally advanced olfactory neuroblastoma with intracranial extension

Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin. With only about 1,000 cases reported, there are no clear guidelines regarding management of this disease. Intracranial extension and orbital involvement have been shown to be independent risk factors associated with poorer outcomes. We hereby report a case of a 46-year old male presented with an 8-month history of progressive nasal obstruction and intermittent right-sided epistaxis associated with anosmia and increased pressure sensation in and around the right eye. Further evaluation revealed a large enhancing heterogeneous cystic and solid mass in the right nasal cavity measuring 5.0×5.3×4.6 cm with extension superiorly into the anterior cranial fossa and frontal lobes, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. A biopsy of this mass confirmed high grade olfactory neuroblastoma. Because of the intra-cranial extension, a decision was made to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. The patient had very good response to this treatment on a repeat imaging study and went on to have resection of this mass. Post-operatively, he received radiation therapy to the tumor bed and 2 more cycles of chemotherapy. He has been followed now for more than 8 months with no evidence of disease recurrence.

The developing management of esthesioneuroblastoma: a single institution experience

Esthesioneuroblastoma remains a challenging disease because of its rarity, the complexity of surrounding structures, missing opinions of optimal treatment protocol, and complications associated with necessary surgery. Our objective was to analyse the management and outcome of a cohort of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma from 1990 to 2009 in a tertiary medical centre. There were 17 eligible patients (8 males and 9 females) with the median age of 53 years (range 20-75 years). An obvious inconsistency was noted in the management of the various tumours of the present series during the two decades due to a lack of a uniform treatment protocol. The median follow-up time was 57.5 months (range 3-158 months). Nine patients (seven with curative treatment intent) died of the disease with the median time from diagnosis to death of 60 months (range 3-161 months). Eight patients had no evidence of the disease at last follow-up visit (median 76 months, range 24-119 months). Recurrences were documented in seven of the patients. The median time from end of primary treatment to a recurrence was 57 months (range 6-110 months). The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival was 68 and 62%, respectively. The management of ENB should be planned by an experienced head and neck surgeon as part of a multidisciplinary team in a tertiary referral setting. Multimodality therapy with long-term follow-up is preferable and should be set based on the available disease-specific classifications for clinical staging and histopathological grading.

Patterns of regional spread for esthesioneuroblastoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

ENB is a rare malignant neoplasm that affects the anterior skull base. Disease stage is a significant predictor of survival, in particular the presence or absence of lymph node metastases. Multiple studies have identified the cervical lymph nodes as the most frequent site of spread; however, no studies have attempted to characterize the radiographic appearance of metastatic lymph nodes or identify the primary nodal drainage for these tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and imaging examinations of patients with a pathologically proved diagnosis of ENB from a single tertiary care institution from 2004 to 2010. A head and neck radiologist with 9 years of experience in evaluating ENB reviewed the imaging of all patients with lymph node metastases to confirm the lymph node findings.

RESULTS

Spread of ENB to cervical lymph nodes was discovered in 14/48 patients (29%). Of the 14 patients, 5 (36%) were discovered to have lymph node involvement at initial staging, while 9 (64%) showed development of disease in the cervical nodes on surveillance examinations. Level II lymph nodes were the most frequently involved (13/14 cases). Levels I (57%) and III (50%) nodes and RPNs (43%) were also frequently involved. Metastatic lymph nodes were predominantly solid and demonstrated marked contrast enhancement, often approaching the degree of enhancement of nearby blood vessels. Metastatic nodes were moderately or highly FDG-avid.

CONCLUSIONS

ENB exhibits a predictable pattern of metastasis to cervical lymph nodes, typically spreading first to level II nodes, with frequent involvement of level I and III nodes and RPNs. Metastatic lymph nodes have characteristic imaging features that can assist radiologists in the identification of nodal disease.