Cell carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses and skull base

Tumours of Nasal Septum: A Retrospective Study of 32 Patients

Objective: Tumours of the nasal septum are a rare and heterogeneous group of lesions in the sinonasal tract. The management of the different lesions of this site is debated. The aim of this study is to share our experience on a rare clinical condition and stimulate other centres to publish theirs. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the databases of sinonasal tumours treated at the Sections of Otolaryngology (ENT) of two University Hospitals (Palermo and Genova) between 2012 and 2020. Results: From the two databases, a cohort of 32 patients with tumours of nasal septum were selected. All patients underwent an endoscopic examination. Large tumours underwent preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast medium. In 22 (68.7%) cases, the preoperative radiologic evaluation also included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium to obtain a better differentiation of the lesions and study the vascular pattern. All the large lesions were biopsied under endoscopic guidance using local anaesthesia; the same approach was used to remove the tumours and their attachment with safe resection margins. Conclusions: While malignant lesions require an excision of the mass with resection of all layers of the nasal septum, benign lesions must be typed according to histological considerations in order to plan the most appropriate type of surgical resection.

The Role of Advanced Endoscopic Resection of Diverse Skull Base Malignancies: Technological Analysis during an 8-Year Single Institutional Experience

Background  Resection of skull base malignancies poses complex pathological and treatment-related morbidities. Recent technological advancements of endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) offer the ability to reexamine traditional treatment paradigms with endoscopic procedures. The utility of EES was quantitatively examined in a longitudinal series with attention to morbidities and postoperative outcomes. Methods  A single-center retrospective review was performed of all malignant sinonasal tumors from 2010 to 2018. Patients with purely EES were selected for analysis. Disease features, resection extent, complications, adjuvant treatment, recurrence, and survivability were assessed. Despite the mixed pathological cohort, analysis was performed to identify technical aspects of resection. Results  A total of 68 patients (47.6% males and 52.4% females, average age: 60.3 years) were included. A diversity of histotypes included clival chordoma (22.1%), olfactory neuroblastoma (14.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (11.8%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (11.8%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 83.8% of cases. Infection (4.4%) and cerebrospinal fluid leak (1.5%) were the most common postoperative complications. Total 46 patients (67.6%) underwent adjuvant treatment. The average time between surgery and initiation of adjunctive surgery was 55.7 days. Conclusion  In our 8-year experience, we found that entirely endoscopic resection of mixed pathology of malignant skull base tumors is oncologically feasible and can be accomplished with high GTR rates. There may be a role for EES to reduce operative morbidity and attenuate time in between surgery and adjuvant treatment, which can be augmented through recent mixed reality platforms. Future studies are required to systematically compare the outcomes with those of open surgical approaches.

Prognosis of Distant Metastatic Sites in Anterior Skull Base Malignancies

Objective This study aimed to provide information regarding the prognosis of patients presenting with metastatic anterior skull base malignancies based upon histology and site of distant metastasis (DM).

Patients and Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with anterior skull base malignant neoplasms with DM.

Outcomes Prognosis was compared between site of DM and tumor histologies. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS).

Results A total of 481 patients were identified. Lung was the most common site of DM (24.9%), followed by bone (22.2%), liver (5.6%), and brain (2.5%). Lung was the most common site for squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) (28.3%), melanoma (37.7%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC; 31.4%). The median survival for patients presenting with metastatic disease regardless of tumor histology was 9.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.2–10.3), and patients with metastasis to the liver had the best median survival at 15.5 months (95% CI: 10.5–25.6). The median survivals for the most common histologies, SCCa, melanoma, and ACC were 8.2 months (95% CI: 5.5–10.2), 10.5 months (95% CI: 8.7–14.1), and 15.0 months (95% CI: 11.1–61.1), respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated worse overall survival (OS) for older patients, higher Charlson-Deyo comorbidity scores, and tumors with higher grade and T stage. Compared with metastasis to bone, lung metastasis had better OS on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51–97). Adenoid cystic carcinoma had improved OS compared with SCCa (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39–99).

Conclusion Tumor histology, metastatic sites, and several disease factors affected prognosis in anterior skull base malignancies with DM.

Survival Outcomes of De Novo vs Inverted Papilloma-Associated Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Overall, the prognosis of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is poor. This malignancy can arise de novo or from inverted papillomas, but it is unclear whether survival differences between the 2 pathologies exist.

Objective

To assess for survival differences between patients with sinonasal de novo SCC (dnSCC) and those with inverted papilloma-associated SCC (IPSCC).

Data Sources

A search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception to January 23, 2020, with cross-referencing of retrieved studies, was performed. Additional data were requested from authors.

Study Selection

Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to capture studies with survival outcomes of adults with sinonasal SCC who underwent regular treatment. Clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series with more than 10 adults aged 18 years or older with sinonasal SCC were included. Exclusion criteria were studies on non-SCC sinonasal neoplasms, studies without histopathologic diagnoses, non-English language articles, nonhuman animal studies, and abstract-only articles. Two blinded investigators (J.J.L., A.M.P., T.W.E., or N.S.W.) screened each abstract and full text, and a third investigator (J.J.L. or P.P.) adjudicated discrepancies. Of 729 unique citations, 26 studies of 1194 total patients were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines were followed. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) criteria were used to assess study quality. Two blinded investigators (J.J.L., A.M.P., T.W.E., or N.S.W.) independently extracted data from each study. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was overall survival, and secondary outcomes were disease-free and disease-specific survival. Before data collection, it was hypothesized that the dnSCC cohort would have worse survival outcomes than the IPSCC cohort.

Results

One study of patients with dnSCC, 12 studies of patients with IPSCC, and 5 studies with both cohorts were included in the meta-analysis of overall survival. The pooled 5-year overall survival rate for 255 patients with dnSCC was 56% (95% CI, 41%-71%; I2 = 83.8%) and for 475 patients with IPSCC was 65% (95% CI, 56%-73%; I2 = 75.7%). Five comparative studies of both cohorts totaling 240 patients with dnSCC and 155 patients with IPSCC were included in another meta-analysis. The pooled overall survival hazard ratio was 1.87 (95% CI, 1.24-2.84; I2 = 0%).

Conclusions and Relevance

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that patients with dnSCC had almost a 2-fold increased risk of mortality compared with those with IPSCC. Large, multicenter studies are necessary to validate these findings before considering treatment alterations such as de-escalation based on histopathology.

[Treatment of primary craniofacial (sinonasal) malignant tumors affecting the anterior and middle skull base]

Sinonasal malignant tumors are characterized by high histological variability and complexity of the differential diagnosis. Currently, there are classifications of these tumors, which are based on their localization and involvement of various anatomical structures. However, generally accepted algorithms for treatment of this pathology have not yet been developed. This review describes the most important algorithms for treatment of the most common histological variants of sinonasal malignant tumors: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma, adenoid cystic cancer, and sinonasal adenocarcinoma. The main problems in choosing the approach for treating these tumors are the lack of generally accepted resectability criteria and contradictions between oncological and neurosurgical indications for surgical treatment. Further research is needed to study the role of radiosensitizers and radioprotectors in comprehensive treatment of sinonasal malignant tumors.

[Results of surgical treatment of skull-base primary malignant tumors with intracranial invasion]

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of factors affecting life expectancy at patients with primary malignant tumors of anterior and middle parts of the skull base with intracranial invasion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

139 patients (47 women and 92 men) with primary malignant tumors of the anterior and middle parts of the skull base with intracranial invasion (stage T4 according to TNM classification or stage C according to Kadish classification for estesioneuroblast ) were treated at the NMRCN Burdenko for the period from 2004 till 2018. The study was conducted by the method of total sampling. The observations are divided into 2 groups: primarily operated (group I) and repeatedly operated (group II).

RESULTS

The average age in both groups was 50 years. In most (64.7%) cases, the tumor affected the medial sections of the base of anterior and middle cranial fossae, and in 35.3% of cases it was localized laterally. All tumors were classified to T4 stage according to TNM classification or (9 olfactory neuroblastomas) to stage C according to Kadish classification.

DISCUSSION

The impact on life expectancy was largely provided by postoperative radiation therapy, the repeated nature of operation, and the presence of brain infiltration. In the total cohort of patients 5-year OS, 5-year RVS, 5-year-old IDF and 5-year LC were 50.7, 35, 54.2 and 36.4%, respectively. In group I, the medians OS and IDF were equal and amounted to 138.3 months. The median RVS was 43.8 months. 5-year OS equal to 63.6%, 5-year RVS - 40.8%, 5-year-IDF - 64.8%, 5-year LC was up to 65.7%. The survival rate in the analyzed cohort for 1, 2, 3 years was 81.4, 71.8 and 67.8%, respectively. In group II, the treatment results for the group of repeatedly treated patients were significantly worse. There were no cases of 5-year survival. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 59.3, 50.8 and 31.8%, respectively. The median OS was 27.1 months, IDF was 27.1 months, RVS was 18.2 months, and LC was 9.1 months.

CONCLUSION

The results and analysis of literature justify the feasibility of surgical treatment of patients with malignant tumors of craniofacial localization at T4 stage. The purpose of surgical intervention should be: elimination of the immediate threat to the patient's life due to edema and dislocation of the brain; the maximum possible removal of tumor tissue (cytoreduction); if possible, the elimination of the most significant symptoms for the patient (pain, nasal breathing disorders, cosmetic defect). If there are special reserves, it is obligatory to include radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment process.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinuses: A Single Center Experience

Objective  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the paranasal sinuses is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, making curative therapy difficult. The goal of this study was to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with SCC treated at our institution. Methods  In a population-based consecutive prospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of all patients treated for SCC between 1988 and 2017. Results  A total of 72 patients were included, follow-up was 100%. Mean follow-up was 57 months for the entire cohort, and 108 months for patients with no evidence of disease. Eighty-two percent of all patients had high-stage (T4) disease. Fifty-seven patients underwent treatment with curative intent; consisting of surgery with or without oncologic treatment in 34, and of oncologic treatment only in 23 cases. Fifteen patients received palliative treatment. The rates of overall survival for the entire cohort were 55% at 2, 41% at 5, and 32% at 10 years, and corresponding disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 55, 45, and 34%, respectively. DSS rates after surgical treatment with curative intent were 81% at 2, 65% at 5, and 54% at 10 years. Retromaxillary involvement and nonradical surgery were negative prognostic factors. Best survival was achieved with the combination of radical surgery and adjuvant oncologic treatment. Conclusion  Surgical resection with a curative intent yielded 65% at 5-year DSS even in this cohort of patients with high-stage SCC and is still considered as the treatment of choice, preferably in combination with adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Treatment of Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives  Sinonasal adenocarcinoma (AC) is a potentially curable disease despite being an aggressive malignancy. Long-term survival can be achieved with early diagnosis and adequate multidisciplinary treatment. Our goal was to evaluate outcomes for patients with AC treated at our institution. Design  In a population-based consecutive prospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of all patients treated for surface epithelial AC between 1995 and 2018. Results  Twenty patients were included, and follow-up was 100%. The mean follow-up time was 89 months for the entire cohort (112 months for patients with no evidence of disease). Intestinal-type AC was found in 65%, whereas nonintestinal-type AC was found in 35% of all cases; 75% had stage T3/4 disease. Tumor grade was intermediate/high in 65%. Eighteen patients underwent treatment with curative intent (craniofacial resection [CFR] in 61%, transfacial approach in 39%, adjuvant radiotherapy in 89%), achieving negative margins in 56% of cases. Overall survival (OS) rates were 90, 68, and 54% after 2, 5, and 10 years of follow-up, respectively, and the corresponding disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 90, 73, and 58%. Age over 60 years, tumor with a maxillary origin, and microscopic bone invasion were negative prognostic factors. Radical CFR was correlated with better OS and DSS. Conclusion  The high probability of achieving radicality with CFR, the low complication rate, the acceptable toxicity of modern irradiation modalities, and the promising survival rates indicate that this strategy might be considered a safe and an effective option for treating patients with very advanced sinonasal AC.

Outcomes of nonsurgical management of locally advanced carcinomas of the sinonasal cavity

OBJECTIVE

To determine the outcome of definitive concurrent chemoradiation with platinum for locally advanced sinonasal carcinomas.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

METHODS

Twenty-three nonsurgically and definitively treated patients diagnosed between July 1998 and February 2009 were analyzed. Patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma or adenocarcinoma were treated with photons and neutrons; the other histologies received photons alone. The vast majority received chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics were utilized, and Kaplan-Meier estimates were computed.

RESULTS

Female (57%) and Caucasian (74%) preponderance were observed. Eighty-seven percent were unresectable; the maxillary and nasoethmoid sites were equally prevalent. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and photons alone were utilized in 74% and 70%, respectively. Platinum agents were given in 95% of chemotherapy patients. Complete response was observed in 64% of patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 28.8 and 65.3 months, respectively. Three-year PFS and OS rates were 44% and 72%, respectively; 5-year PFS and OS rates were 30% and 60%, respectively. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and a maxillary site of origin showed a trend toward superior PFS; higher-dose regimens were associated with somewhat shorter PFS. Relapse was observed in 59% of patients, predominantly local. There were few unanticipated adverse effects, and no grade IV/V events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Advanced sinonasal carcinomas are chemoradiosensitive tumors, albeit with a high propensity for local relapse. There is a definite indication for IMRT and a potential curative role of platinum-based chemoradiation regimens.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4. Laryngoscope, 127:855-861, 2017.

Endonasal endoscopic surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the sinonasal cavities and skull base: Oncologic outcomes based on treatment strategy and tumor etiology

BACKGROUND

Oncologic outcomes for sinonasal and skull base squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) needs investigation.

METHODS

Patients with SCC treated with EEA were stratified by treatment strategy and tumor etiology and reviewed.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were treated with EEA, or which 27 had definitive resection and 7 had debulking surgery. In the definitive group, 17 had de novo tumors and 10 had tumors arising from inverted papilloma. Definitive resection was associated with better 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than debulking (62% vs 17%; p = .02; and 78% vs 30%; p = .03). Patients with de novo tumors had similar 5-year DFS and OS to those arising from inverted papilloma (62% vs 62%; p = .75; and 75% vs 86%; p = .24).

CONCLUSION

Definitive resection of sinonasal SCC with EEA provides sound oncologic outcomes. SCC arising from inverted papilloma does not have prognostic significance.

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas: clinical outcomes and predictive factors

This was a retrospective study of 33 patients treated for sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma between 1995 and 2008. Epidemiological, clinical, histological, and therapeutic aspects of this series of patients were analysed, and their impacts on overall survival and disease-free survival established using the Kaplan-Meier method. A search for prognostic factors was made using a log-rank test. There were 27 men. The average age at diagnosis was 64.7 years. Tobacco-smoking was found to be a risk factor in 24 patients (72.7%). The median follow-up was 66 months (range 0-99 months). Tumours were classified as T1 in 18.3%, T2 in 27.3%, T3 in 6%, and T4 in 48.5% of cases. Disease-free survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 58.5% and 46.1%, respectively, and overall survival rates were 70.3% and 40%, respectively. Overall survival was correlated to tumour status (TNM, American Joint Committee on Cancer) (P = 0.010) and involvement of key structures (skull base, dura mater, brain, orbit, cavernous sinus, infratemporal fossa, skin) (P = 0.049). Surgery followed by radiotherapy improved overall survival (P = 0.005) and disease-free survival (P = 0.028) when compared to other treatment modalities. When compared to surgery alone, it improved disease-free survival (P = 0.049) regardless of tumour stage.

Craniofacial Resection for Sinonasal Malignant Tumors: Statistical Analysis of Surgical Outcome over 17 Years at a Single Institution

We present a retrospective analysis of surgical outcome of sinonasal malignant tumors. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), local control (LC), and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated in 32 patients. Prognostic factors for survival and functional outcomes were investigated. The median follow-up period was 70 months. At 5 years, OS, DSS, LC, and DFS rates were 0.722, 0.745, 0.851, and 0.707, respectively. Prognostic factors for poor OS were involvement of the frontal sinus (p = 0.023), T classification (T4, p = 0.025), surgical complications (p = 0.029), chemotherapy (p = 0.035) postsurgical infection (p = 0.043), involvement of the orbit (p = 0.048), histology (squamous cell carcinoma, p = 0.049), and radiotherapy (p = 0.043). Prognostic factors for poor DSS were radiotherapy (p = 0.030), chemotherapy (p = 0.036), positive surgical margin (p = 0.034), and T classification (T4, p = 0.050). LC was adversely influenced by surgical procedure (combined frontotemporal resection, p = 0.035) and positive surgical margin (p = 0.049). DFS was adversely influenced by positive surgical margin (p = 0.001). Prognostic factors for poor functional outcome were postsurgical infection (p = 0.039), postsurgical complications (p = 0.040), tumor location (maxillary sinus, p = 0.042, orbit, p = 0.0002), number of sinuses involved (number of sinuses involved was inversely proportional to functional outcome, p = 0.027), T classification (T4 p = 0.007), pathology (squamous cell carcinoma, p = 0.023), and chemotherapy (p = 0.048). Craniofacial resection was an effective surgical option.

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.

An orthotopic murine model of sinonasal malignancy

PURPOSE

Malignant sinonasal tumors are clinically challenging due to their proximity to vital structures and their diverse histogenesis and biological behavior. To date, no animal models accurately reflect the clinical behavior of these malignancies. We developed an orthotopic murine model of sinonasal malignancy that reproduces the intracranial extension, bony destruction, and spread along neural fascial planes seen in patients with aggressive sinonasal malignancies of various histologies.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Human squamous cell carcinoma line (DM14) and adenoid cystic carcinoma line (ACC-3) were implanted in the right maxillary sinus or soft palate in male nude mice. Animals were monitored for tumor growth and survival. Tumor specimens were removed for histopathologic evaluation to assess for intracranial extension, orbital invasion, bony invasion, perineural invasion, and distant metastasis. Statistical analysis was done to calculate P values with the Student's t test for individual tumor volumes. Differences in survival times were assessed using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Mice with DM14 or ACC-3 implanted in either the maxillary sinus or the soft palate developed large primary tumors. A statistically significant inverse correlation between survival and the number of tumor cells implanted was found. Histopathologic evaluation revealed orbital invasion, intracranial extension, pulmonary metastasis, lymph node metastasis, and perineural invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe the first orthotopic model for sinonasal malignancy. Our model faithfully recapitulates the phenotype and malignant behavior of the aggressive tumor types seen in patients. This model offers an opportunity to identify and specifically target the aberrant molecular mechanisms underlying this heterogeneous group of malignancies.