Esthesioneuroblastoma: 25-year experience at a single institution

Personalized Approach to Olfactory Neuroblastoma Care

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon neuroendocrine malignancy arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium. ONB frequently presents with nonspecific sinonasal complaints, including nasal obstruction and epistaxis, and diagnosis can be obtained through a combination of physical examination, nasal endoscopy, and computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Endoscopic resection with negative margins, with or without craniotomy, as necessary, is the standard of care for definitive treatment of ONB. Regional metastasis to the neck is often detected at presentation or may occur in a delayed fashion and should be addressed through elective neck dissection or radiation. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered, particularly in the case of high grade or tumor stage, as well as positive surgical margins. Systemic therapy is an area of active investigation in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting, with many advocating in favor of induction chemotherapy for significant orbital or intracranial involvement prior to surgical resection. Various targeted immunotherapies are currently being studied for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic ONB. Prolonged locoregional and distant surveillance are indicated following definitive treatment, given the tendency for delayed recurrence and metastasis.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field.

METHODS

In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication.

RESULTS

The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention.

CONCLUSION

As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses.

Olfactory neuroblastoma: diagnosis, management, and current treatment options

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare neoplasm originating from the olfactory neuroepithelium representing 3-6% of tumors of the sinonasal tract. ONB require multi-disciplinary care. Historically, the gold standard surgical procedure for ONB has been open craniofacial resection. In the last years, endoscopic endonasal approaches have been largely introduced with lower complication rates, shorter hospital stay, and similar clinical outcome. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the management of ONB, however there are not generally accepted recommendations for its application. Although there is agreement that multimodal therapy is needed, the optimal use of chemotherapy is still unknown. The rarity of the disease, makes difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the role of systemic treatment in induction and concomitant setting.

Immunohistochemical Profiling and Staging in Esthesioneuroblastoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study and Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare sinonasal malignant neoplasm with 40% 5-year survival. Because of the rarity of the tumor, the optimal treatment and subsequent prediction of prognosis are unclear. We studied a modern series of patients with ENB to evaluate the association of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers and clinical stages/grades with outcomes.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective review of patients with ENB treated during a 25-year period was performed. A systematic literature review evaluating the prognostic benefits of current staging systems in evaluating survival outcomes in ENB was undertaken.

RESULTS

Among 29 included patients, 25 (85%) were treated surgically at our institution, with 76% of those endoscopically resected; 7 (24.1%) received chemotherapy, and 18 (62.1%) received radiation therapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 91.3%, and 10-year OS was 78.3%. Progression-free survival at 5 and 10 years was 85.6% and 68.2%, respectively. A total of 36 distinct IHC markers were used to diagnose ENB but were inconsistent in predicting survival. A systematic literature review revealed predictive accuracy for OS using the Kadish, TNM, and Hyams staging/grading systems was 68%, 42%, and 50%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports the 5- and 10-year OS and progression-free survival in a modern series of patients with ENB. No traditional IHC marker consistently predicted outcome. Some novel reviewed markers show promise but have yet to enter clinical mainstream use. Our systematic review of accepted staging/grading systems also demonstrated a need for further investigation due to limited prognostic accuracy.

Olfactory Neuroblastomas: What Actually Happens in the Long-Term?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term oncologic outcome and review the state of the art in the management of olfactory neuroblastomas. Material and Methods: The records of all patients treated for olfactory neuroblastomas in two academic departments between 1975 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Data on epidemiological parameters were collected (age, gender), along with staging (Kadish, Morita), histologic grading (Hyams), time and form of treatment, locoregional control, and disease-specific and overall survival. Patients with other malignant diseases, distant metastases of olfactory neuroblastomas at the time of initial diagnosis, a follow-up time of less than 5 years, or insufficient clinical-pathological data were excluded from further analysis. Results: In total, 53 cases made up our final study sample (26 men, 27 women; male–female ratio 0.96:1). Their mean age was 48.6 years (range: 10–84 years). The mean follow-up time was 137.5 months (4–336 months, SD: 85.0). A total of 5 out of 53 study cases (9.4%) showed metastatic involvement of the neck at the time of initial presentation. Local recurrence was detected in 8/53 (15.1%) and regional recurrence in 7/53 of our study cases (13.2%). Three patients (42.8%) from the group of cases with surgery as the sole form of management (7/53, 13.2%) died due to the disease. The cumulative disease-specific survival and overall survivalfor the whole group of patients were 88.6% and 63.6%, respectively. The cumulative disease-specific survival stratified by Kadish A/B vs. Kadish C/D as well as Hyams I/II vs. Hyams III/IV showed superior results for limited tumors, albeit without significance, and low-grade tumors (highly significant difference). Conclusion: Craniofacial or sometimes solely endoscopically controlled resection can warrant resection of the olfactory neuroblastoma with wide margins. However, locoregional failures and distant metastases can occur after a long period of time. The non-negligible incidence of regional recurrences, partly in unusual localizations, leads us to consider the need to identify the “recurrence-friendly” cases and to perform individualized elective irradiation of the neck in cases with high-risk features.

Exclusively endoscopic surgical resection of esthesioneuroblastoma: A systematic review

Background

Historically sinonasal malignancies were always addressed via open craniofacial surgery for an oncologic resection. Increasingly esthesioneuroblastomas are excised using an exclusively endoscopic approach, however, the rarity of this disease limits the availability of long‐term and large scale outcomes data.

Objective

The primary objective is to evaluate the treatment modalities used and the overall survival of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma managed with exclusively endoscopic surgery.

Methods

In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, PubMed was queried to identify studies describing outcomes associated with endoscopic management of esthesioneuroblastomas.

Results

Forty‐four out of 2462 articles met inclusion criteria, totaling 399 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated with an exclusively endoscopic approach. Seventy‐two patients (18.0%) received adjuvant chemotherapy and 331 patients (83.0%) received postoperative radiation therapy. The average age was 50.6 years old (range 6–83). Of the 399 patients, 57 (16.6%) were Kadish stage A, 121 (35.2%) were Kadish stage B, 145 (42.2%) were Kadish stage C, and 21 (6.1%) were Kadish stage D. Pooled analysis demonstrated that 66.0% of patients had Hyams histologic Grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, while 34.0% of patients had Grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ disease. Negative surgical margins were achieved in 86.9% of patients, and recurrence was identified in 10.3% of patients. Of those with 5‐year follow‐up, reported overall survival was 91.1%.

Conclusion

Exclusively endoscopic surgery for esthesioneuroblastoma is performed for a wide range of disease stages and grades, and the majority of these patients are also treated with adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Reported overall recurrence rate is 10.3% and 5‐year survival is 91.1%.

Outcomes of endoscopic and open resection of sinonasal malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of endoscopic and open resection of sinonasal malignancies.

METHODS

The search was performed using PubMed (1950-2020), Embase (1974-2020), the Cochrane library, and the website clinicaltrials.gov. The hazard ratio, HR, 95% confidence interval, CI, of the rates of overall survival and disease-free survival and the demographic characteristics of the included studies were extracted and analyzed. Pooled analysis was conducted with the studies' individual patient data, using log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier survival, and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 1939 articles retrieved, 23 articles were included. Overall, 1373 cases were incorporated into the final analysis, 653 (47.56%) of which underwent the surgery through an endoscopic approach, whereas 720 (52.44%) cases utilized the open approach. The overall survival was comparable between endoscopic and open resection (HR = 0.84 [95% CI: 0.65-1.07], p = 0.16; random effects analysis). Pooled analysis with Cox regression revealed signifcant differences in overall survival (HR = 0.568 [95%CI:0.380-0.849], p = 0.006) and disease-free survival (HR = 0.628 [95%CI:0.424-0.929], p = 0.02) between endoscopic and open approaches.

CONCLUSION

The aggregated evidence suggests the survival outcome of endoscopic resection is comparable or greater than that of open resection of sinonasal malignancies.

Consolidating the Hyams grading system in esthesioneuroblastoma - an individual participant data meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon primary sinonasal tumor which can extend intracranially. Exactly how to classify them pathologically still remains discrepant; the Hyams grading system, for example, has not been universally adopted. This individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of each Hyams grade on patient outcomes.

METHODS

We accessed two electronic databases including PubMed and Web of Science. Raw patient data from potential articles were extracted. To examine the associations of various clinicopathological factors with the Hyams grades, we utilized Chi-square, t-test, and Mann-Whitney, as appropriate. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were used to elucidate the impact of the Hyams grades on recurrence-free survival (RFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) of ENB patients.

RESULTS

We included 33 studies with 492 ENB patients. We found significant associations of Kadish stages, Dulguerov stages, rates of recurrence, metastasis, and patient mortality with Hyams grade. Log-rank tests and Cox regression models demonstrated significant differences in RFS and OS of Hyams grade I - II, grade III, and grade IV patients. There was no statistical difference in RFS and OS of Hyams grade I and II. Radiotherapy was only effective in grade III - IV ENBs and chemotherapy showed no benefits to patients.

CONCLUSION

We verify that the Hyams grading system appears to be a reliable prognostic indicator to assess ENB patient outcomes. Consolidating the Hyams grading system into a three-tier system based on similar clinical outcomes of grades I and II may simplify this classification schema.

Orbital invasion by Esthesioneuroblastoma: a comparative case series and review of literature

Purpose: To review the current literature on esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) as it pertains to clinical features, grading systems, treatment options, and survival.Methods: A literature search in PubMed was performed to include all articles published in English with orbit involving ENB. Only articles that included each patient's demographics, tumor stage, treatment, or survival were included. A total of 22 articles with 104 patients were considered for this literature review. We also present five cases of ENB, all encountered in our health system, between 2010 and 2020.Results: The median age of diagnosis of orbit involving ENB was 44.5 years. Males were more likely affected than females at 72.9%. Common presenting ocular symptoms were visual change (38.1%), periorbital pain (33.3%), and diplopia (14.3%). Common clinical exam findings were proptosis (47.6%), extraocular movement deficit (23.8%), and periorbital edema (19.0%). Twenty-seven patients (77.1%) received surgery, 22 patients (62.9%) received chemotherapy, and 30 patients (85.7%) received radiation therapy as part of their treatment. Median duration of survival was 124.0 months and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 67.1%. Hyams, Kadish, and Dulguerov T-staging showed inconsistent survival prognosis while orbital invasion and lymph node metastasis had worse outcomes. Our five cases exhibited the spectrum of disease processes evidenced above, with four involving the orbit.Conclusions: ENB is a rare sinonasal tumor that can invade the orbit. Because of its rarity, no single staging system appears superior. Resection with radiation therapy has superior survival results while the benefits of chemotherapy are currently unknown.

Surgery as Single-Modality Treatment for Early-Stage Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Institutional Experience, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

For olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), the combination of surgical tumor resection and radiation therapy (RT) has been considered the "gold standard" in treatment protocols intended to cure.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize evidence on the treatment of ONB using surgery alone.

METHODS

A retrospective institutional case series, a systematic review of the literature, and an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis on only surgically treated ONB patients.

RESULTS

At our institution, a total of 10 patients were treated through surgery alone and remained alive and free of disease at last follow-up. The IPD meta-analysis on 128 patients revealed a disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 67.7% and 75.4% at 5 years and 57.1% and 71.9% at 10 years, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that Kadish stage C/D and Hyams grading III//IV significantly affected OS (P = 0.000 and P = 0.000) and DFS (P = 0.000 and P = 0.002). For low-risk patients, the DFS was 80.6% at 5 years and 67.8% at 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery alone is an equivalent alternative to combined treatment in carefully selected low-risk ONB patients with better outcome measures than previously reported.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Esthesioneuroblastoma: 10-Year Experience of a Single Institute

Objectives: To evaluate efficacy and safety of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the management of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). Methods and Materials: A retrospectively analysis of 52 ENB patients treated with IMRT between 8/2008 and 8/2018 was performed. Thirteen of the 44 patients (29.5%) with newly diagnosed and 2 of the 8 patients with recurrent disease presented regional lymph node metastasis. The median dose of IMRT was 66 (range 52.5-75) Gy for all patients. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was provided to all excluding 6 patients in this cohort. Results: With a median follow-up time of 32.5 (6~121) months, the 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), regional progression-free survival (RPFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates for the entire cohort were 89.7, 69.5, 89.7, 95.1, and 85.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that N-classification (N- vs. N+) at presentation was the only significant prognosticators for PFS. No significant prognosticator was identified for other survival outcome. No severe (i.e., grade 3 or 4) IMRT-induced acute toxicity was observed. Severe late toxicities were infrequent (11.5%), which included dysosmia (3.8%), hearing loss (3.8%), radiation brain injury (1.9%), and temporal lobe necrosis (1.9%). Moreover, late ocular toxicity secondary to IMRT was not observed. Conclusion: IMRT produced acceptable 3-year outcomes in terms of OS (89.7%), LPFS (89.7%), and RPFS (95.1%) rates without substantial late adverse effects. Further investigations for a more effective systemic strategy for distant disease control as well as a precision radiation technique for further improvement in local control are needed.

Comparing Kadish and Modified Dulguerov Staging Systems for Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the Kadish and the modified Dulguerov staging of individual participants to determine the impact of stage and other prognostic factors on disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases.

REVIEW METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was followed for this study. Articles including patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) staged with both Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems were reviewed. The raw data from eligible studies were requested to perform an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Pooled data from 21 studies representing 399 patients with ONB undergoing treatment with curative intent showed that increasing age, treatment with chemotherapy, and positive or unreported margin status portended worse DFS (P < .05). Increasing stage for both Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems was prognostic for worse DFS and OS (P < .05), with Kadish C representing a heterogeneous group with regard to outcome and corresponding Dulguerov T stage. Using the Akaike information criterion, the Dulguerov staging system had superior performance to the Kadish system for DFS (1088.72 vs 1092.54) and OS (632.71 vs 644.23).

CONCLUSION

This study represents the first IPD meta-analysis of ONB directly comparing the outcomes of Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems in patients treated with primary surgery. Both systems correlated with DFS and OS, with superior performance in the Dulguerov system. Furthermore, the Kadish C group represented a heterogeneous group with regard to outcomes after stratification by the Dulguerov system. Dulguerov T4 patients had the worst outcome, with most being approached with open resection.

Pattern of loco-regional relapses and treatment in pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma: The French very rare tumors group (Fracture) contribution

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare neuroectodermal tumor that seldom occurs during childhood. Multimodal treatments are currently proposed, but the place of each therapy is still in debate. Our objective is to describe clinical evolution, especially the pattern of relapses and determine contributors to tumor progression.

PROCEDURE

Medical charts of all children (≤18 years) affected by ENB treated in France from January 1990 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were selected (10 males). Median age at diagnosis was 12.2 years (0.9-18). Tumor extension was Kadish stage A (n = 1), B (n = 3), C (n = 10), and D (n = 4). Hyams histological grades were I (n = 1), II (n = 3), III (n = 6), and IV (n = 6) (in two cases not defined). Initial cervical nodal spread was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (n = 15), computed tomography scan (n = 16), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (n = 7), and cytological/histological analysis (n = 2). N1 stage was confirmed by imaging in two of 18 cases and one of two cases had cervical node dissection with neck irradiation (58 Gy). After a median follow-up of survivors of 7.6 years (3.8-17.9), 10 patients developed neuromeningeal progression, whereas no cervical nodal relapse occurred and only eight survived. Both 5-year overall and event-free survival rates were 44.4% (±11.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The poor prognosis is mainly related to neuromeningeal dissemination that should be considered during treatment strategy. However, cervical lymph node relapse is rare.

Management of orbital invasion in esthesioneuroblastoma: 14 years' experience

Background

There is a scarcity of data about the prognostic value of orbital invasion in esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), as well as about its management strategies. Indications for the preservation of orbital contents remain controversial, and the evaluation of orbital invasion has been ill defined.

Methods

This retrospective analysis contained 60 ENB patients with orbital invasion who underwent radiotherapy with or without surgery over the past 14 years. Orbital invasion was classified into three grades.

Results

There were 52 patients at stage C and 8 at stage D, according to Foote classifications. Grade I, grade II and grade III orbital invasion was detected in 12, 23, and 25 patients, respectively. The median follow-up was 57 months (IQR 32–95 months). Fourteen patients received radical radiotherapy, with a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 63.5%; 46 received surgery plus radiation, with a 5-year OS of 70.7%; and the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.847). Orbital preservation was feasible in 100% of cases, including 18 cases that extended to extraocular muscles or the eye globe. Five-year locoregional relapse-free survival was 100% in patients with prophylactic elective neck irradiation (PENI) and 58.1% in patients without PENI (p = 0.004). Univariate analysis showed that grade II/III orbital invasion was associated with poorer OS and progression-free survival. Neck metastasis (with a Foote stage of D) was independently associated with shorter OS and distant metastasis–free survival in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that primary radiotherapy achieved comparable survival to surgery plus radiotherapy in advanced ENB. Invasion of either the extraocular muscles or the eye globe is not a contraindication for eye-sparing surgery. Orbital invasion in grade II/III was significantly associated with adverse survival outcomes. Prophylactic radiotherapy to the neck with N0 significantly reduces the risk of regional recurrence.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnosis, Management, and Current Treatment Options

INTRODUCTION

Many controversies exist in the diagnosis and management of this aggressively malignant condition, mainly because of limited literature and lack of randomized control trials, resulting in nonstandardized treatment methods. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature to identify management approach and treatment options for esthesioneuroblastoma.

METHODS

An extensive review of the published literature was conducted in PubMed, OVID Medline, and EMBASE journals for studies of esthesioneuroblastoma. Terms for search included esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) and olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). No date restrictions were used.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3876 related articles. Cross-checking of articles led to exclusion of duplicate articles. The remaining 1170 articles were screened for their full text and English language availability. Of 609 full-text articles available, animal studies, irrelevant articles, and studies with mixed/confusing data were excluded. We finalized 149 articles pertaining to the topic, including 119 original research articles, 3 book chapters, 11 reviews, 9 case reports, and 7 case series.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is the standard for treatment for higher-grade lesions. The endoscopic endonasal approach is gaining further recognition with more favorable outcomes and better survival than for open surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy is associated with the highest overall survival and shows benefit for patients with higher-stage disease and those who receive chemotherapy. Recurrence rates after treatment vary drastically in the literature and, therefore, prolonged follow-up with repeated imaging is recommended. Lifelong surveillance is recommended because of late recurrences associated with this tumor.

Diseases of the nasal cavity

Despite garnering minimal attention from the medical community overall, olfaction is indisputably critical in the manner in which we as humans interact with our surrounding environment. As the initial anatomical structure in the olfactory pathway, the nasal airway plays a crucial role in the transmission and perception of olfactory stimuli. The goal of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of olfactory disturbances as it pertains to the sinonasal airway. This comprises an in-depth discussion of clinically relevant nasal olfactory anatomy and physiology, classification systems of olfactory disturbance, as well as the various etiologies and pathophysiologic mechanisms giving rise to this important disease entity. A systematic clinical approach to the diagnosis and clinical workup of olfactory disturbances is also provided in addition to an extensive review of the medical and surgical therapeutic modalities currently available.

Endoscopic management of Esthesioneuroblastoma: Our experience and review of the literature

During the last two decades evolution of the endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEA) has offered the option of minimally invasive techniques in the management of esthesioneuroblastomas (ENB), either as endoscope assisted cranial resection or as pure endoscopic procedures. This study presents the use of pure EEA in the management of ENB in our center, along with a literature review. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiology and pathology records of patients with ENB treated during the period July 2006 to January 2016. During the above period, ten patients with ENB were treated using pure EEA. The mean age was 47.5 years. The gender distribution was: eight males, two females. The most common presenting symptoms were nasal obstruction and discharge or epistaxis (8/10). The mean duration of symptoms was 1.5 years. All patients had preoperative confirmation of ENB by biopsy. Five patients received neoadjuvant radiation and four underwent postoperative radiation. One patient did not receive any radiotherapy and no patient received chemotherapy. Gross total resection was achieved in all patients and intraoperative microscopically negative surgical margins achieved in 9/10 (90%). No major intraoperative complications occurred. The most common postoperative complication was nasal infection. Cerebrospinal fluid leak was noted in one patient. During the follow-up period of 6-120 months (mean 74.8) two cases of neck lymph node recurrence were observed. No deaths due to the disease occurred during the follow-up period. Pure EEA offer excellent results in the management of ENB. Neoadjuvant radiation treatment is promising although more studies need to establish its role.

Clinical features and the molecular biomarkers of olfactory neuroblastoma

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a kind of rare and complex head and neck tumor. The reports on this field are very scarce due to the low morbidity. Here, we summarized the clinical features and prognosis of ONB through analysis of 10 cases, and determined the phosphorylation status of some molecules known to be involved in carcinogesis such as Akt, Erk, Stat3 and Stat5 in ONB tissue. Ten ONB patients were recruited in this study, 6 male and 4 female, ranging from 26 to 66 years old. In the 10 cases, 6 were diagnosed as late T stage (T₃/T₄), 6 were at late Kadish stage (C/D) and 3 were at high Hyams grade (Ⅲ), which indicated a poorer prognosis. Patient characteristics-gender and tumor features were evaluated with respect to the overall survival (OS) through univariate analysis. The result indicated that the OS of male is obviously higher than that of female after a series of combined treatment. The OS of ONB patients in the late stage or high grade is lower than those in early stages or low grade. Moreover, p-Akt, p-Erk, p-Stat3 and p-Stat5 was detected in 5 (50%), 9 (90%), 7 (70%) and 0 patients (0%), respectively, suggesting the former 3 molecules might be potential biomarkers for diagnosis of ONB.

Treatment of pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma with smell preservation

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin and represents the most common cancer of the nasal cavity in pediatric age. The gold standard of treatment consists of en bloc resection, numerous studies have shown as the endoscopic approaches permit good control of the disease improving the quality of life after the treatment. Herein we describe the case of a 13-year-old patient referred to our outpatient clinic with a polypoid multi-lobed lesion occupying the left nasal cavity and imaging that confirmed a left-sided nasal mass without cribriform plate involvement (Kadish B). We performed an unilateral endoscopic resection with transnasal craniectomy and anterior skull base reconstruction with a flap from the contralateral nasal septum based on the septal branches of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries (Septal Flip Flap, SFF), that provided a faster healing process with reduction of nasal crusting, improvement in the quality of life of patient in the postoperative period and the preservation of the contralateral olfactory bulb that has allowed to save the smell. This treatment strategy of pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma was analyzed in the context of the current literature.

Changing Trends in the Management of Esthesioneuroblastoma: Irish and International Perspectives

Objectives  Evaluation of the changing trends in esthesioneuroblastoma in an Irish context and review of management options nationally to clarify the best current therapeutic approach by comparing with international research on this uncommon malignancy. Design  Retrospective review. Setting  Tertiary referral center. Participants  All patients presenting with esthesioneuroblastoma in Beaumont hospital or on the National Cancer Registry of Ireland between 1994 and 2013. Main Outcome Measures  Recurrence-free and overall survival. Results  During the study period, 32 cases of esthesioneuroblastoma were diagnosed (0.4 per million per year). Average age at diagnosis was 57 years; however, two cases were under 20. The majority (62.5%) were male. Patients predominantly presented with epistaxis or nasal congestion (73%), while two cases were identified incidentally on radiological investigations. Twenty-seven cases underwent primary surgical management (two post neo-adjuvant treatment) with seventeen requiring bifrontal craniotomy. Twenty-four of these received postoperative radiation therapy. Overall, 5-year survival was 65%. Kadish A/B patients exhibited 100% 5-year disease-specific survival versus 54% in Kadish C/D ( p  = 0.011). Hyams grade I/II patients exhibited 75% 5-year disease-specific survival versus 63% in Hyams grade III/IV ( p  = 0.005). Patients treated endoscopically exhibited 100% 5-year disease-specific survival versus 51% in those treated via an open approach ( p  = 0.102). Conclusions  Many controversies exist in the diagnosis and management of this condition. Despite this, results from Irish data are mostly concordant with the international literature. The rising incidence of this disease may represent improved pathological recognition. An increasing number of esthesioneuroblastoma cases are being successfully treated via endoscopic surgery.

Survival outcomes for stage-matched endoscopic and open resection of olfactory neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Advanced-stage olfactory neuroblastoma requires multimodal therapy for optimal outcomes. Debate exists over endoscopic endonasal surgery in this situation. Stage-matched open and endoscopic surgical therapy were compared.

METHODS

Patients from 6 cancer institutions were assessed. Stratification included dural involvement, Kadish stage, nodal disease, Hyams' grade, approach, and margin status. At follow-up, local control, nodal status, and evidence of distant metastases were recorded with any subsequent therapy. Statistical analyses to identify risk factors for developing recurrence and survival differences were performed.

RESULTS

One hundred nine patients were assessed (age 49.2 ± 13.0 years; 46% women) representing Kadish A stage (10%), Kadish B stage (25%), and Kadish C stage (65%). The majority of the patients (61.5%) underwent endoscopic resection, 53.5% within Kadish C stage. Within-stage survival analysis favored endoscopic subgroup for Kadish C stage (log-rank P = .017) nonsignificant for Kadish B stage (log-rank P = .39).

CONCLUSION

Stage-matched survival was better for the endoscopically treated group compared to the open surgery group, with high negative margin resections obtained.

Olfactory neuroblastoma: a single-center experience

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a potentially curable disease, despite being an aggressive malignancy with a poor natural history. Our goal was to evaluate management outcomes for patients with ONB treated at our institution. Our prospective database for brain tumors and the pathology registry of head and neck cancers at Oslo University Hospital were searched to identify all patients treated for ONB between 1998 and 2016. Variables extracted from these databases, supplemented by retrospective chart reviews, underwent thorough analysis. All cases were formally re-examined by a dedicated head and neck pathologist. Twenty patients were identified. Follow-up was 100%. Mean follow-up was 81.5 months for the entire cohort and 120.3 months for patients with no evidence of disease. Fourteen patients underwent treatment of choice including craniofacial resection (CFR) with or without radiotherapy (XRT). Six patients could only receive less extensive treatment; three patients underwent lateral rhinotomy (LR) with or without XRT after being deemed medically unsuitable for CFR, while another three patients received only supportive, non-surgical treatment (due to positive lymph node status in two and to extensive tumor size in one case). Overall and disease-specific survival rates were 100% after 10 years of follow-up when negative surgical margins were achieved by CFR. Positive margins were associated with poorer outcome with no patients surviving longer than 44 months. Long-term survival was also achieved in two cases among patients not eligible for CFR: one case after radical LR and one case after radio-chemotherapy. Advanced disease at presentation (tumor size ≥40 mm, Kadish grades C and D, or TNM IVa and IVb) and positive surgical margins were correlated to significantly dismal survival. Our study suggests that CFR with or without adjuvant XRT is safe and leads to excellent long-time overall and disease-specific survival. Negative surgical margins, tumor size <40 mm, Kadish stage A/B, and TNM stages I-III are independent prognostic predictors of outcome.

Complications of Advanced Kadish Stage Esthesioneuroblastoma: Single Institution Experience and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

In esthesioneuroblastoma, greater disease extent and Kadish staging correlate with greater recurrence, complications, and mortality. These advanced stage malignancies require extensive resections and aggressive adjuvant therapy. This increases the risk of complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak, neurologic deficits, and osteomyelitis. We present our case series and then analyze the literature to ascertain whether advanced stage tumors corresponds to greater rates of complications.

METHODS

A retrospective review of consecutive patients with histologically-proven esthesioneuroblastoma who were aggressively managed at our institution was performed. This was followed by an extensive literature search of published original data, in large series from 2006-2016, where both surgery and adjuvant therapy were used for the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma.

RESULTS 

Single institution review revealed eight patients with esthesioneuroblastoma, half with advanced Kadish staging. All Kadish A patients ( Kadish A: confined to nasal cavity) underwent endoscopic approaches alone, while Kadish C patients (Kadish C: extends beyond nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses) and D patients (Kadish D: lymph node or distant metastases) underwent craniofacial approaches, while all patients received post-operative adjuvant therapies. Complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, seizures, meningitis, and abscess only occurred in high Kadish stage patients. Literature review demonstrated a higher proportion of advanced Kadish stage cases correlated with increasing rates of pneumocephalus, infection, and recurrence. A higher proportion of Kadish C and D tumors was inversely correlated with CSF leak rate and overall survival.

DISCUSSION

Advanced stage tumors are often associated with a higher incidence of adverse events up to 33%, both due to disease burden and treatment effect. There is increasing use of endoscopy and neoadjuvant therapy, which have the potential to decrease complication rates.

CONCLUSION 

Advanced Kadish stage esthesioneuroblastoma necessitates meticulous surgical resection and aggressive adjuvant therapies, together, these increase the likelihood of adverse events, including CSF leak, neurologic deficits, and infections, and may represent the real morbidity cost of radically treating these tumors to achieve an improvement in overall survival. In selected patients, less-invasive approaches or neo-adjuvant therapies can be used without compromising on a curative resection.

Complex Skull Base Reconstructions in Kadish D Esthesioneuroblastoma: Case Report

Introduction Advanced Kadish stage esthesioneuroblastoma requires more extensive resections and aggressive adjuvant therapy to obtain adequate disease-free control, which can lead to higher complication rates. We describe the case of a patient with Kadish D esthesioneuroblastoma who underwent multiple surgeries for infectious, neurologic, and wound complications, highlighting potential preventative and salvage techniques.

Case Presentation A 61-year-old man who presented with a large left-sided esthesioneuroblastoma, extending into the orbit, frontal lobe, and parapharyngeal nodes. He underwent margin-free endoscopic-assisted craniofacial resection with adjuvant craniofacial and cervical radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy. He then returned with breakdown of his skull base reconstruction and subsequent frontal infections and ultimately received 10 surgical procedures with surgeries for infection-related issues including craniectomy and abscess evacuation. He also had surgeries for skull base reconstruction and CSF leak, repaired with vascularized and free autologous grafts and flaps, synthetic tissues, and CSF diversion.

Discussion Extensive, high Kadish stage tumors necessitate radical surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy, which can lead to complications. Ultimately, there are several options available to surgeons, and although precautions should be taken whenever possible, risk of wound breakdown, leak, or infection should not preclude radical surgical resection and aggressive adjuvant therapies in the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Assessment of frozen section margin analysis during olfactory neuroblastoma surgery

OBJECTIVES

1) assess the performance of the intraoperative frozen section procedure to correctly classify biopsies obtained during olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) surgery; 2) define the relationship between posttest probabilities and pretest probabilities from frozen section analysis; and 3) review incorrectly classified specimens.

STUDY DESIGN

Study of diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS

We searched our institution's pathology database for patients who had ONB surgery between January 1, 2000 and November 16, 2012. We only included patients who had a definitive diagnosis of ONB prior to surgery and frozen sections obtained during surgery. All frozen sections in this study had corresponding permanent sections available to serve as a gold standard. This database was analyzed to obtain classification statistics. The confidence intervals for classification performance were obtained using the bootstrap sampling method. Confidence intervals for posttest probability curves were derived using the Taylor series expansion. Finally, we obtained and reviewed the slides from ambiguous or incorrect reads.

RESULTS

A total of 459 specimens from 33 patients were analyzed. We found the following performance characteristics: sensitivity: 0.89 (0.81, 0.94); specificity: 0.96 (0.94, 0.98); accuracy: 0.95 (0.92, 0.96); likelihood ratio positive: 24.4 (14.5, 44.1); prevalence: 0.20 (0.17, 0.25); positive predictive value: 0.86 (0.78, 0.92); and negative predictive value: 0.97 (0.95, 0.99). Histopathologic review revealed that crush artifacts and inadequate specimen size were major sources of incorrect reads.

CONCLUSION

We found frozen section assessment of ONB specimens to be an excellent tool for the assessment of intraoperative margins.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA. Laryngoscope, 127:1735-1741, 2017.

Olfactory neuroblastoma: 14-year experience at an Australian tertiary centre and the role for longer-term surveillance

BACKGROUND

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare sinonasal malignancy, with poorly defined treatment protocols. Management at a tertiary centre was retrospectively evaluated to inform future treatment and follow up.

METHODS

Cases treated with curative intent (2000-2014) were included. Data were collected, and overall and disease-free survival rates were calculated.

RESULTS

Eleven cases were identified, with a median follow up of 87 months. One patient was Kadish stage A, one was stage B, eight were stage C and one was stage D. The latter patient underwent chemoradiotherapy alone. The remaining patients proceeded to: endoscopic-assisted wide local excision (n = 2), anterior craniofacial resection (n = 4) or endoscopic craniofacial resection (n = 4). No patients had primary nodal disease or elective neck treatment. One patient had neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Six patients had post-operative radiotherapy; three received adjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients had late cervical node failure, and proceeded to neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy. Two patients had late local recurrence. Ten-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 68.2 and 46.7 per cent, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Longer-term follow up is supported given the incidence of late regional and local recurrence. Prophylactic treatment of cervical nodes in locally advanced disease is an area for further investigation.

Sinonasal Carcinomas with Neuroendocrine Features: Histopathological Differentiation and Treatment Outcomes

Objectives Sinonasal cancers with neuroendocrine features share similar clinical, radiological, and histopathological features; however, these tumors often exhibit varying degrees of aggressive behavior presenting significant treatment challenges. The objective of this study was to report our experience with these rare malignancies and to present a review of current literature. Methods Following institutional review board approval, the records of all patients with biopsy-proven sinonasal malignancies over a 5-year period were reviewed. Results The study included 14 patients with olfactory neuroblastomas (ONBs), 7 patients with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinomas (SNUC), and 2 patients with sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinomas (SNEC). Histopathologic markers aided in final diagnosis, but showed variable specificity. In patients with sufficient follow-up, the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 81% (9/11) for ONB and 75% (3/4) for SNUC. Three patients developed a regional or distant recurrence (two with ONBs and one with SNUC). Two patients, one with SNEC and one with ONB, succumbed to brain radionecrosis related to proton radiation therapy. Conclusions Overlapping clinical and histopathological features in poorly differentiated sinonasal cancers with neuroendocrine features continue to present a diagnostic challenge. Individualized assessment and treatment strategies can improve the accuracy of the initial assessment and the treatment outcomes.

Long-Term Prognostic Analysis after Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Olfactory Neuroblastoma: A Retrospective Study of 13 Cases

Objectives

To summarize the characteristics and long–term outcomes of olfactory neuroblastoma through the analysis of 13 cases in single institution, with the assessment of treatment modality, prognostic factors.

Method

A retrospective study of thirteen cases diagnosed as olfactory neuroblastoma and underwent combined treatments during the period 2000–2010. Statistical analysis was performed to search for prognostic factors and compared different treatment modalities.

Results

13 patients were enrolled in this study, including 8 male and 5 female, ranging from 15 to 69 (median 43) years old. One patient at stage A was only treated with endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES). Seven patients were treated with preoperative radiotherapy and EES, two with EES and postoperative radiotherapy, and the other three with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The range of follow-up time varied from 23 to 116 months (median 65 months). The 5-year overall survival rate was 46.2% (6/13). To date, these thirteen patients have not suffered local recurrences while two patients had lymph node recurrences and one had distant metastasis in the bone marrow. In 13 patients, 61.5% were diagnosed as late T stage (T3/4), 69.2% late Kadish stage (C/D) and 53.8% were high Hyams grade (I/ II), which indicated poor prognosis. Related prognostic factors were the TNM stage (T stage P = 0.028, N stage P = 0.000, M stage P = 0.007), Kadish stage (P = 0.025) and treatment modality (P = 0.015).

Conclusion

Late stage of TNM and Kadish staging system indicated a poor prognosis. Combined treatment modality, including endoscopic endonasal surgery, achieved a better outcome than non-surgical approach.

Role of surgical treatment for esthesioneuroblastomas: 31-Year experience at a single institution

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to re-assess the outcomes of different surgical methods for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) in a single institution, with emphasis on changes in surgical treatment with regard to endoscopic approaches in patients with ENB.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 35 patients with ENB treated over the last 31 years.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 66.8% and 50.8%, respectively. Disease-free survival in the endoscopic surgery group was significantly higher compared to that of craniofacial surgery group (P = 0.035). In the endoscopic surgery group, nine of 10 patients did not exhibit local failure or regional recurrence over a mean followup period of 64.3 months, which was longer than the mean time to recurrence (22.0 months) observed in this study.

CONCLUSION

Given its significant survival outcomes and high rate of local control, endoscopic surgery could be preferred as a minimally invasive treatment with potentially low morbidity and possible oncological validity for the treatment of ENB.

Contemporary management of esthesioneuroblastoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article provides a contemporary review of the management of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) within the context of recent surgical advancements, while highlighting the ongoing limitations and controversies surrounding this uncommon pathologic entity.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical management of ENB is continuously evolving with contemporary endoscopic approaches complementing or in many cases replacing open approaches.

SUMMARY

Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay definitive therapy for ENB. Aggressive, combined modality therapy appears to be justified in patients at greatest risk of developing recurrence based on advanced tumor stage and high pathologic grade. ENB requires prolonged surveillance following treatment given its tendency for late recurrence.

Endoscopic Management of Esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of sinonasal origin. These tumors typically present with unilateral nasal obstruction and epistaxis, and diagnosis is confirmed on biopsy. Over the past 15 years, significant advances have been made in endoscopic technology and techniques that have made this tumor amenable to expanded endonasal resection. There is growing evidence supporting the feasibility of safe and effective resection of esthesioneuroblastoma via an expanded endonasal approach. This article outlines a technique for endoscopic resection of esthesioneuroblastoma and reviews the current literature on esthesioneuroblastoma with emphasis on outcomes after endoscopic resection of these malignant tumors.

Endoscopic Resection of Sinonasal Malignancy

Objectives

The use of endoscopic approaches for sinonasal malignancy resection has increased, but survival data are limited secondary to disease rarity and new surgical technique. Here we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of endoscopic endonasal resection of sinonasal malignancy.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, PubMed Central, NCBI Bookshelf, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, National Guideline Clearinghouse.

Review Methods

PRISMA/MOOSE guidelines were followed. MeSH terms were “endoscopic” AND (“esthesioneuroblastoma” OR “sinonasal adenocarcinoma” OR “squamous cell carcinoma” OR “sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma”). For studies in which individual-level data were available, results were obtained by direct pooling. For studies in which only summary Kaplan-Meier curves were available, numerical data were extracted, traced, and aggregated by fitting a Weibull model.

Results

Of 320 studies identified, 35 case series were included (n = 952 patients), with 15 studies analyzed via aggregate modeling and 20 studies analyzed via direct pooling. Two- and 5-year survival rates for patients in aggregate modeling were 87.5% and 72.3%, respectively (mean follow-up: 32.9 months). Two- and 5-year survival for patients in direct pooling were 85.8% and 83.5%, respectively (mean follow-up: 43.0 ± 19.5 months). Significant overall survival difference was found between low- and high-grade cancers ( P = .015) but not between low- and high-stage cancers ( P = .79).

Conclusion

Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates are comparable and sometimes greater than those from open craniofacial resection. Survival rates significantly differ by cancer grade but not stage. Journals and investigators should be encouraged to publish retrospective and prospective case series with staged survival updates based on established guidelines.

Neck recurrence and mortality in esthesioneuroblastoma: Implications for management of the N0 neck

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To review the literature on neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma.

STUDY DESIGN

PubMed database.

METHODS

A PubMed database search was performed using keywords "esthesioneuroblastoma," "olfactory neuroblastoma," and "esthesioneuroblastoma neck metastasis." Articles written in English with greater than 10 subjects that had data regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality and/or the association of neck recurrence with Kadish stage were included for analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria with information regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality, and 15 studies had data associating neck recurrence and Kadish stage. The neck recurrence rate was 14.1% in studies analyzing mortality. Among those patients who developed regional metastases, mortality was 60%. Of patients without regional recurrence, the mortality rate from disease was 26% (P < 0.0001) and overall mortality was 32% (P < 0.0001). The rate of neck recurrence within each Kadish stage was 0%, 11%, 21%, and 18% for Kadish stages A, B, C, and D, respectively. The trend toward an increased incidence of neck recurrence from stage A to stage D is statistically significant, with P value 0.003.

CONCLUSION

The rate of neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma is close to 15%. There is a strong association of recurrence with Kadish stage B and C. Mortality from disease in patients with recurrence in cervical lymph nodes is significant when compared to those who never develop neck disease. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate a potential role for elective neck dissection versus elective neck radiation for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A. Laryngoscope, 126:1373-1379, 2016.

The role of elective nodal irradiation for esthesioneuroblastoma patients with clinically negative neck

PURPOSE

Although adjuvant radiation to the tumor bed has been reported to improve the clinic outcomes of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) patients, the role of elective neck irradiation (ENI) in clinically node-negative (N0) patients remains controversial. Here, we evaluated the effects of ENI on neck nodal relapse risk in ENB patients treated with radiation therapy as a component of multimodality treatment.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Seventy-one N0 ENB patients irradiated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1970 and 2013 were identified. ENI was performed on 22 of these patients (31%). Survival analysis was performed with focus on comparative outcomes of those patients who did and did not receive ENI.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time for our cohort is 80.8 months (range, 6-350 months). Among N0 patients, 13 (18.3%) developed neck nodal relapses, with a median time to progression of 62.5 months. None of these 13 patients received prophylactic neck irradiation. ENI was associated with significantly improved regional nodal control at 5 years (regional control rate of 100% for ENI vs 82%, P < .001), but not overall survival or disease-free survival. Eleven patients without ENI developed isolated neck recurrences. All had further treatment for their neck disease, including neck dissection (n = 10), radiation (n = 10), or chemotherapy (n = 5). Six of these 11 patients (54.5%) demonstrated no evidence of further recurrence with a median follow-up of 55.5 months.

CONCLUSION

ENI significantly reduces the risk of cervical nodal recurrence in ENB patients with clinically N0 neck, but this did not translate to a survival benefit. Multimodality treatment for isolated neck recurrence provides a reasonable salvage rate. The greatest benefit for ENI appeared to be among younger patients who presented with Kadish C disease. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Spread patterns of lymph nodes and the value of elective neck irradiation for esthesioneuroblastoma

OBJECTIVES

This study was aimed to characterize patterns of lymphatic spread and assess the value of prophylactic elective neck irradiation (ENI) for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB).

METHODS

A retrospectively analysis of 116 patients with newly diagnosed ENB at our institution over 35-year period was undertaken.

RESULTS

32 patients (28%) presented lymph node metastasis at initial diagnosis, the common sites involved were level II, Ib, level III and VIIa. Among 80 N-negative patients staged in Modified Kadish B/C, 50 patients were delivered with ENI, 30 patients were not. The 5-year regional failure-free survival was 98% in patients treated with ENI and 75% in patients without ENI (p=0.005), regional failure rate decreased significantly from 23% (7/30) to 2% (1/50) after ENI (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis also suggested that ENI was an independent favorable predictor for regional controlling (HR, 0.102; 95% CI: 0.012-0.848; p=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest cohort of ENB so far in a single institute, and also the first detailed description of nodal spread patterns of N-positive ENB. Elective neck irradiation reduced the regional failure significantly and should be recommended as a part of initial treatment strategy for patients staged with Modified Kadish B/C.

Comparison of outcomes for open versus endoscopic approaches for olfactory neuroblastoma: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic approaches have been adopted as an alternative to craniofacial resection in the surgical management of olfactory neuroblastoma.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL (2000-2014) to compare outcomes for open versus endoscopic approaches.

RESULTS

Thirty-six studies containing 609 patients were included. Meta-analysis of (a) all patients, (b) Kadish C/D only, and (c) Hyams III/IV only, failed to show a difference in locoregional control and metastasis-free survival between approaches. However, endoscopic approaches were associated with improved overall survival (OS) for all 3 groups (p = .001, .04, and .001, respectively), and higher disease-specific survival (DSS) for all patients (p = .004) and Hyams III/IV only (p = .002).

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that endoscopic approaches have comparable control rates to open approaches for olfactory neuroblastoma. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2306-E2316, 2016.

Esthesioneuroblastoma (olfactory neuroblastoma) treated with 111In-octreotide and 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT

A 51-year-old man with a recurrent metastatic esthesioneuroblastoma (olfactory neuroblastoma) was referred for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). He received 4 treatments of 111In-octreotide over 8 months and 3 treatments of 177Lu-DOTATATE over 4 months, which helped alleviate his symptoms and improved his quality of life; however, the tumor ultimately progressed and he passed away shortly thereafter. PRRT with 111In-octreotide or 177Lu-DOTATATE could play a role in the management of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Endoscopic endonasal resection of esthesioneuroblastoma: A single center experience of 24 patients

OBJECTIVE

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon malignant tumor. During the past decade, endoscopic approaches have been gradually applied in treating skull base tumors. However, the experience in using this approach to treat ENB is still limited. Kadish staging and Dulguerov staging are common methods used for ENB staging, but it remains unclear as to which method is better. In this study, we reviewed our experiences with endoscopic surgeries for ENB and analyzed the prognostic roles of the two staging methods.

METHODS

A total of 24 patients with ENB treated with only endoscopic endonasal surgery between January 2001 and March 2012 were included. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and early and advanced stages were compared using the log-rank test. The prognostic roles of the two staging methods were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Amongst the 24 patients, 19 patients presented with newly diagnosed ENB, and 5 patients presented with recurrent disease. The three-year OS and DFS rates were 82% and 70.8%, respectively. Four patients (16.6%) died from recurrence of the tumor. Dulguerov staging predicted OS with significant differences (P=0.042), whereas Kadish staging predicted DFS with significant differences (P=0.020) between the early and advanced stages.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed experiences that purely endoscopic endonasal surgery for ENB showed successful survival results with remarkably decreased complications. Dulguerov staging and Kadish staging play different prognostic roles in patients treated with purely endoscopic endonasal resection based on various end points.

Multidisciplinary treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma: Patterns of failure and management of recurrence

PURPOSE

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy of the head and neck for which there is no defined treatment protocol. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with the treatment and patterns of failure of this disease.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From 1994 to 2012, 37 previously unreported patients with esthesioneuroblastoma were evaluated, and 32 eventually treated for cure at 2 academic medical centers. All patients were staged with Kadish criteria. The mean and median follow-ups were 96.1 and 76.5 months respectively (range 6-240 months).

RESULTS

The Kadish stage was A in 6 patients, B in 13 patients, and C in 13 patients. Four patients were initially treated with concurrent chemo-radiation therapy. Twenty-eight patients were treated with primary surgery. Two (2) underwent open medial maxillectomy and 26 underwent craniofacial resection (open - 17, endoscopic - 9). Three patients received curative surgical resection only. Seven patients failed either within the cranial axis or distantly, 6 of the 7 are dead of disease, 10-194 months following initial treatment. Six patients had isolated neck recurrences, 4/6 were salvaged with neck dissection and additional chemo-radiation and remain alive 30-194 months following initial treatment. Estimated overall survival rate at 10 years was 78% based on Kadish and T stages.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective analysis of 32 patients, Kadish stage C and stage T3/T4 tumors were associated with worse outcome. Total radiation dose of 60 Gy, margin status, patient age, were not found to have significant prognostic value.

Prognosis and biology in esthesioneuroblastoma: the emerging role of Hyams grading system

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a sinonasal tumor with distinct clinicopathologic features, multiple facets, and a spectrum of behavior. Characterization of this disease is challenging, and clinically, several staging systems have been used with no consensus on a single scheme. Recently, the Hyams histological grading system has emerged as a promising prognostication tool that offers an added value to stage. This review addresses prognosis and biology in esthesioneuroblastoma. More specifically, we sought to present a critical appraisal on the value of each of these stratification systems, stage vs. grade, in identifying risk groups and guiding management.

Esthesioneuroblastoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: differentiation in diagnosis and treatment

Introduction Malignant sinonasal tumors comprise less than 1% of all neoplasms. A wide variety of tumors occurring primarily in this site can present with an undifferentiated or poorly differentiated morphology. Among them are esthesioneuroblastomas, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinomas, and neuroendocrine carcinomas. Objectives We will discuss diagnostic strategies, recent advances in immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Data Synthesis These lesions are diagnostically challenging, and up to 30% of sinonasal malignancies referred to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are given a different diagnosis on review of pathology. Correct classification is vital, as these tumors are significantly different in biological behavior and response to treatment. The past decade has witnessed advances in diagnosis and therapeutic modalities leading to improvements in survival. However, the optimal treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, and neuroendocrine carcinoma remain debated. We discuss advances in immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnosis, diagnostic strategies, and treatment selection. Conclusions There are significant differences in prognosis and treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. Recent advances have the potential to improve oncologic outcomes but further investigation in needed.

An endoscopic endonasal approach for early-stage olfactory neuroblastoma: an evaluation of 2 cases with minireview of literature

We describe the clinical findings in two patients with pathologically diagnosed olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) of the sinonasal area and the surgical methods used for its treatment. Using an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) without dura resection, along with radiotherapy, we successfully treated ONB at the Kadish stage A. One of our patients, however, experienced tumor recurrence 24 years after open surgery with radiotherapy that was conducted at another hospital. This patient was no longer eligible for radiotherapy, and the tumor was therefore resected with dura resection using an EEA combined with duraplasty. The dura resection with duraplasty using fascia lata and a pedicled nasal septal flap was minimally invasive. As with surgery without duraplasty, a postoperative computed tomography (CT) examination revealed that EEA with duraplasty led to quick improvement of the postoperative inflammatory response as well as pneumocranium. Here, we investigated whether to modify the method of surgery depending upon the primary site of early-stage ONB. We suggest that, in early-stage ONB, an endoscopic endonasal approach is an effective and less invasive method. It is also advisable to perform dura mater resection of the lesion site despite the absence of obvious intracranial invasions in image findings.

Synchronous esthesioneuroblastoma and growth-hormone-secreting pituitary macroadenoma: combined open and endoscopic management

Background Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignant neoplasm that arises from the olfactory neuroepithelium. In this article we report a case of esthesioneuroblastoma presenting concomitantly with a growth-hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. Results A 52 year old woman underwent surgery for suspected nasal polyps. Intralesional debulking of an intranasal tumor disclosed a low-grade esthesioneuroblastoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large nasal and intracranial tumor, in addition to a separate sellar and suprasellar tumor. The patient was frankly acromegalic. She underwent a first-stage gross total resection of the esthesioneuroblastoma via a combined extended subfrontal and extended endonasal approach, followed by focused radiation therapy. She then returned for endoscopic removal of the GH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. Conclusion The combined open and endoscopic management of this patient is described and a review of the literature presented. To our knowledge this is the first case of synchronous esthesioneuroblastoma and macroadenoma, in this case GH secreting, described in the literature.

Long-term oncological outcome after endoscopic surgery for olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic techniques seem to be safe approaches for the treatment of esthesioneuroblastomas (ENBs). However, they are intended for selected patients and require extensive experience in base of the skull surgery.

OBJECTIVES

ENB is a rare tumor of the nasal cavity. The craniofacial approaches remain the gold standard of treatment in multiple centers. Endoscopic endonasal approaches were progressively developed. The main objective of this work was to study the overall survival and recurrence-free period for patients with ENB who underwent endoscopic resection.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study from 1996 to 2014, reviewing the patients treated by endonasal endoscopic surgery for ENB.

RESULTS

Eight patients benefited from endoscopic surgical resection. According to the Kadish classification, one patient was stage A, three patients were stage B, and four patients were stage C. According to the Dulguerov classification, one patient was stage T1, five patients were stage T2, and two were stage T4. Reconstruction of the base of the skull was performed in three patients. No postoperative complications were noted. The mean follow-up period was 95 months. The 5-year overall survival was 87.5% and the 5-year recurrence-free survival was 75%. To date, there have been no local recurrences but two patients had lymph node recurrences. Seven patients are disease-free and one is deceased.

Long-term carcinologic results of advanced esthesioneuroblastoma: a systematic review

Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy can be considered like the optimal treatment modality for limited esthesioneuroblastoma. However, therapeutic management of locally advanced tumors remains a challenge. The aim of our study was to access and compare the oncologic results of the different treatment modalities in advanced esthesioneuroblastoma. We performed a systematic review using the Medline, and Cochrane database in accordance with PRISMA criteria and included all the cases of advanced esthesioneuroblastoma published between 2000 and 2013. We also retrospectively included 15 patients with an advanced esthesioneuroblastoma managed at our tertiary care medical center. Long-term survival rates defined as the time from diagnosis or randomization to the date of death or last follow-up were evaluated for each treatment with Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses. 283 patients have been included. The mean follow-up was 78 months. Five-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by surgery associated with radiotherapy. Ten-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by the association of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (p = 0.0008). Within the surgical group, 5-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by endoscopic resection (p = 0.003). Surgical resection combined with radiotherapy offers the gold standard of care. Adjuvant chemotherapy seems to improve the long-term survival in patients with locally advanced esthesioneuroblastoma. Endoscopic resection in advanced tumors should be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Treatment of esthesioneuroblastomas

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical features, treatment outcomes, pattern of failures, and course of the disease of a cohort of patients treated for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) with craniofacial resection (CFR) at a single institution during a 12-year period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 11 patients with ENB treated with CFR in a tertiary care academic medical center from 1998 to 2009.

RESULTS

Median age at diagnosis was 51 years (range 41-67 years). The most common presenting symptom was nasal obstruction (91%). Four patients (36%) presented with Kadish stage B, six patients (55%) with Kadish stage C, and one patient (9%) with Kadish stage D. The initial treatment was craniofacial resection (CFR) alone for three patients (23%), CFR followed by postoperative radiation therapy (RT) in seven patients (64%), while one patient (9%) received both neoadjuvant and adjuvant RT in addition to surgery. The mean and median follow-up times were 66 and 58 months, respectively (range 23-158 months). Seven patients are currently alive with no evidence of disease (64%), while two patients are alive with disease (18%). Overall survival was 100% at one year postoperatively and 80% five years after the primary treatment. The progression free survival was calculated to 73% at one year and 64% at five years.

CONCLUSIONS

ENB is an uncommon diagnosis with an incidence of 0.037/100,000 persons/year in the catchment area of our institution. Treatment can be challenging, especially with advanced disease. CFR with RT offers good oncologic disease control with minimal morbidity.

Prognostic utility of Hyams histological grading and Kadish-Morita staging systems for esthesioneuroblastoma outcomes

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is derived from the specialized olfactory neuroepithelium. Hyams grading and Kadish staging have been used to prognosticate and to guide treatment decisions. In this study, we sought to validate the prognostic utility of these systems in a large ENB cohort. We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with ENB who had been evaluated and treated at our institution. The association of grade and stage with prognostic outcome was assessed; the Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to generate 5-year OS and DFS curves. Out of 124 cases we identified, 121 were assessed for grading and 109 for staging. Review of the tissue samples revealed that 62 % of tumors were low grade (I/II) and 21 % were high grade (III/IV); 17 % of tumors were metastasis. The OS rate was 75 % at 5 years. The DFS was 60 % at 5 years. The OS was significantly worse for metastatic ENB (low-grade ENB vs metastatic ENB p = 0.01598); the DFS was significantly worse for high grade versus low grade ENB. Of the 109 cases that had been staged, 16 % were stage A, 33 % stage B, 43 % stage C, and 8 % stage D. In the A, B, and C groups, there were no significant differences between recurrence, distant metastasis, or 5-year survival rates. Statistical significance was not reached with the T, N, M and overall staging system. Age cutoff of 65 years reliably predicted OS. High grade of ENB was significantly associated with poor outcome, while advanced stage was not associated with poor outcome in this large cohort. Grading should certainly be considered in prognostication and treatment decisions for ENB.

Optimization of long-term outcomes for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare cancer of the anterior cranial base that arises in the region of the olfactory rootlets. The purpose of this study was to review the long-term outcomes of patients diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) treated at a single institution to determine factors associated with improved disease control and survival.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 70 patients with ENB treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1992 and 2007 was undertaken. Survival and recurrence was analyzed and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank statistics.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were reviewed. The majority (77%) had T3 or T4 disease at presentation, 38% identified as modified Kadish stage C or D. Ninety percent of patients received surgical resection as part of their treatment, and 66% received postoperative radiation or chemoradiation. The median follow-up was 91.4 months (7.6 years). Forty-eight percent of patients developed recurrent disease and the median time to recurrence was 6.9 years. Overall and disease-specific median survival was 10.5 and 11.6 years, respectively. Patients who were treated with surgery alone had a median disease-specific survival of 87.9 months, whereas those who were treated with surgery and postoperative radiation had a median disease-specific survival of 218.5 months (p = .047).

CONCLUSION

Patients with ENB can achieve favorable long-term survival, even if disease is locally advanced. Survival is improved considerably when surgical resection is followed by postoperative radiation. However, recurrence rates and mortality remain high, and therefore long-term observation in these patients is warranted.

Pathologic collision of inverted papilloma with esthesioneuroblastoma

Background: Inverted papilloma (IP) of the nasal cavity is a benign tumor that represents 0.5–4% of all nasal tumors and have been known to rarely undergo malignant transformation to squamous carcinoma and even more rarely adenocarcinoma. Synchronous association with low-grade esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) has been reported in only one case report where a small-sized lesion was treated with surgery alone. Here we report the first case of invasion of IP by high-grade ENB with nodal metastasis that was treated with combined modality therapy.

Case Presentation: A case of a 64-year-old African American gentleman presented to the otolaryngology with a 3-month history of recurrent epistaxis. Imaging revealed a large right nasal cavity mass extending into the right sphenoid sinus but without intracranial extension. Surgical pathology revealed high-grade ENB invading IP. An orbitofrontal craniotomy approach was used to achieve complete resection of the mass but with positive margins. Post-operative positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed nodal metastasis. The patient was then treated with adjuvant chemoradiation and remains without evidence of disease at 42 months post-treatment. We discuss the disease presentation, histopathologic features, and disease management with literature support.

Conclusion: In this very rare disease presentation where two extremely rare malignancies collide, we show that aggressive management with trimodality therapy of surgery, adjuvant radiation with stereotactic radiosurgical boost, and adjuvant chemotherapy gives excellent results. Given the natural history of the disease, however, long follow-up is needed to declare complete freedom from the disease.

Hyperostotic esthesioneuroblastoma: rare variant and fibrous dysplasia mimicker

A 65-year-old male presented with a 3-year history of orbital symptoms. An imaging-based diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia involving the skull base was made at another institution. CT showed a diffuse sinonasal mass and ground-glass appearance of the bones of the anterior skull base with bony defects and mucocele formation. MRI demonstrated an accompanying intracranial and orbital rind of soft tissue mass along the hyperostotic bones. FDG-PET showed corresponding intense hypermetabolism. Small cysts were observed at the tumor-brain interface. Biopsy revealed esthesioneuroblastoma with bone infiltration that is compatible with the hyperostotic variant of esthesioneuroblastoma. There are a few cases of hyperostotic esthesioneuroblastoma reported in the literature.