Imprint cytology of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma of the paranasal sinus: A case report

Integrated Molecular and Histological Insights for Targeted Therapies in Mesenchymal Sinonasal Tract Tumors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of mesenchymal sinonasal tract tumors (STTs), a distinct subset of STTs. Despite their rarity, mesenchymal STTs represent a unique clinical challenge, characterized by their rarity, often slow progression, and frequently subtle or overlooked symptoms. The complex anatomy of the sinonasal area, which includes critical structures such as the orbit, brain, and cranial nerves, further complicates surgical treatment options. This underscores an urgent need for more advanced and specialized therapeutic approaches.

RECENT FINDINGS

Advancements in molecular diagnostics, particularly in next-generation sequencing, have significantly enhanced our understanding of STTs. Consequently, the World Health Organization has updated its tumor classification to better reflect the distinct histological and molecular profiles of these tumors, as well as to categorize mesenchymal STTs with greater accuracy. The growing understanding of the molecular characteristics of mesenchymal STTs opens new possibilities for targeted therapeutic interventions, marking a significant shift in treatment paradigms. This review article concentrates on mesenchymal STTs, specifically addressing sinonasal tract angiofibroma, sinonasal glomangiopericytoma, biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma, and skull base chordoma. These entities are marked by unique histopathological and molecular features, which challenge conventional treatment approaches and simultaneously open avenues for novel targeted therapies. Our discussion is geared towards delineating the molecular underpinnings of mesenchymal STTs, with the objective of enhancing therapeutic strategies and addressing the existing shortcomings in the management of these intricate tumors.

Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma with Orbital and Skull Base Involvement Report of 3 Cases and Systematic Review of the Literature

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS) is a rare malignant tumour of the upper nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses that presents predominantly in middle aged female patients and show a characteristic infiltrative and hypercellular proliferation of spindle cells that demonstrate a specific immunoreactivity. We present three cases with BSNS that had different presenting complaints, either sinonasal or orbital problems, underwent endoscopic surgical treatment and/or radiotherapy and have been disease free on long follow up. A systematic review of all published cases was performed to identify all BSNS cases known at present. BSNS requires prompt and correct diagnosis with accurate surgical resection as well as consideration of radiotherapy. Our three cases confirm the findings of the literature and support that BSNS is an aggressive but treatable malignant disease of the sinonasal tract.

Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma: A Genetically Confirmed Case Showing Bone Invasion Accompanying a Non-neoplastic Respiratory Epithelium

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma is a newly established tumor entity that is associated with distinct clinicopathological findings. Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma is a rare, low-grade spindle cell sarcoma that arises in middle-aged females, exclusively in the sinonasal tract. A fusion gene involving PAX3 is detected in most biphenotypic sinonasal sarcomas, which aids in its diagnosis. Here, we report a case of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma with its cytological findings. The patient was a 73-year-old woman who presented with purulent nasal discharge and dull pain in the left cheek area. Computed tomography showed a mass extending from the left nasal cavity to the left ethmoid sinus, the left frontal sinus, and the frontal skull base. She underwent a combined transcranial and endoscopic approach for en bloc resection with a safety margin. Histologically, spindle-shaped tumor cells have been thought to proliferate mainly in the subepithelial stroma. Here, nasal mucosal epithelial hyperplasia was noted, and the tumor had invaded the bone tissue accompanying the epithelial cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed a PAX3 rearrangement, and next-generation sequencing identified a PAX3::MAML3 fusion. Based on FISH, split signals were observed not in respiratory cells but in stromal cells. This indicated that respiratory cells were non-neoplastic. In the diagnosis of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma, the inverted growth of the respiratory epithelium can be a diagnostic pitfall. FISH analysis using a PAX3 break-apart probe is helpful not only for an accurate diagnosis but also for detecting the true neoplastic cells.

Protective ventilation in a pig model of acute lung injury: timing is as important as pressure

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is a significant risk for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Management of the patient with ARDS is currently dominated by the use of low tidal volume mechanical ventilation, the presumption being that this mitigates overdistension (OD) injury to the remaining normal lung tissue. Evidence exists, however, that it may be more important to avoid cyclic recruitment and derecruitment (RD) of lung units, although the relative roles of OD and RD in VILI remain unclear. Forty pigs had a heterogeneous lung injury induced by Tween instillation and were randomized into four groups (n = 10 each) with higher (↑) or lower (↓) levels of OD and/or RD imposed using airway pressure release ventilation (APRV). OD was increased by setting inspiratory airway pressure to 40 cmH2O and lessened with 28 cmH2O. RD was attenuated using a short duration of expiration (∼0.45 s) and increased with a longer duration (∼1.0 s). All groups developed mild ARDS following injury. RD ↑ OD↑ caused the greatest degree of lung injury as determined by [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] ratio (226.1 ± 41.4 mmHg). RD ↑ OD↓ ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]= 333.9 ± 33.1 mmHg) and RD ↓ OD↑ ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] = 377.4 ± 43.2 mmHg) were both moderately injurious, whereas RD ↓ OD↓ ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] = 472.3 ± 22.2 mmHg; P < 0.05) was least injurious. Both tidal volume and driving pressure were essentially identical in the RD ↑ OD↓ and RD ↓ OD↑ groups. We, therefore, conclude that considerations of expiratory time may be at least as important as pressure for safely ventilating the injured lung.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a large animal model of ARDS, recruitment/derecruitment caused greater VILI than overdistension, whereas both mechanisms together caused severe lung damage. These findings suggest that eliminating cyclic recruitment and derecruitment during mechanical ventilation should be a preeminent management goal for the patient with ARDS. The airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) mode of mechanical ventilation can achieve this if delivered with an expiratory duration (TLow) that is brief enough to prevent derecruitment at end expiration.

Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

OBJECTIVES

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS), previously low-grade sinonasal sarcoma with neural and myogenic features, is a rare tumor of the sinonasal tract first described in 2012. Due to its rarity, limited literature is available in providing clinicians with a standardized treatment regimen, particularly in cases of positive surgical margins. This article aims to provide a clinical review of the currently available reported cases of BSNS, as well as presenting clinical, radiologic, and pathologic details of 2 novel cases.

METHODS

Online electronic databases include PubMed and Embase where queried for reports of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma or low-grade sinonasal sarcoma with neural and myogenic features. Two previously unpublished cases were included in the results. Data including clinical presentation, epidemiologic data, radiologic evaluation, intraoperative details, histopathology, treatment modality, and postoperative follow-up information were included.

RESULTS

A total of 100 previously published cases were identified in 12 prior articles. Mean age at presentation was 52.9 years. Extrasinonasal extension was observed in 27.4% of cases with most common site of extension being cribriform plate. Forty-seven cases included treatment details with surgical excision being the most common modality. Recurrence rates were identical for both surgical excision alone and surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy (33.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma is a slow-growing tumor that is amenable to surgical resection. Recurrence rates are similar between surgical excision and surgical excision with adjuvant radiation therapy, but limited data in reported cases preclude a determination of treatment superiority.