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

Development of an evaluation and treatment strategy for olfactory neuroblastoma: a review of evidence from large-scale studies, including population-based and multicenter studies, and meta-analyses

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare sinonasal malignancy arising from the olfactory epithelium that is characterized by skull base involvement and a modest natural history. Because of its rarity and long course, identification of independent prognostic factors is dependent on multivariate analysis of large, long-term data. In this review, we outline evidence for the evaluation and treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma obtained from recent large-scale population-based studies, meta-analyses and multicenter studies. Hyams grade is currently the only pathological grade system for olfactory neuroblastoma. The modified Kadish staging and Dulguerov classification are available for clinical staging. The results of large-scale studies have confirmed Hyams, the modified Kadish and Dulguerov as independent prognostic factors. Surgery followed by radiotherapy provides the best overall survival and recurrence-free survival for resectable disease. The question of whether postoperative radiotherapy should be administered for all cases or only for those at risk of recurrence remains unanswered. Exclusively endoscopic resection is indicated for modified Kadish A/B cases without any increase in the risk of death or recurrence, and is also indicated for modified Kadish C cases if a negative surgical margin is ensured. For more advanced cases, such as those with extensive brain infiltration, the open approach is indicated. Elective nodal irradiation prevents late nodal recurrence of N0 patients. Chemotherapy has failed to show a benefit in survival or disease control. Current needs for olfactory neuroblastoma include the development and validation of refined staging systems suitable for current practice; expansion of indications for endoscopic surgery; less invasive surgery; definitive radiotherapy and novel systemic therapy.

Treatment Outcomes of Olfactory Neuroblastoma: A Multicenter Study by the Korean Sinonasal Tumor and Skull Base Surgery Study Group

OBJECTIVES

Due to the rarity of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), there is ongoing debate about optimal treatment strategies, especially for early-stage or locally advanced cases. Therefore, our study aimed to explore experiences from multiple centers to identify factors that influence the oncological outcomes of ONB.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 195 ONB patients treated at nine tertiary hospitals in South Korea between December 1992 and December 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate oncological outcomes, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze prognostic factors for survival outcomes. Furthermore, we conducted 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching to investigate differences in clinical outcomes according to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

In our cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78.6%, and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62.4%. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the modified Kadish (mKadish) stage and Dulguerov T status were significantly associated with DFS, while the mKadish stage and Hyams grade were identified as prognostic factors for OS. The subgroup analyses indicated a trend toward improved 5-year DFS with dural resection in mKadish A and B cases, even though the result was statistically insignificant. Induction chemotherapy did not provide a survival benefit in this study after matching for the mKadish stage and nodal status.

CONCLUSION

Clinical staging and pathologic grading are important prognostic factors in ONB. Dural resection in mKadish A and B did not show a significant survival benefit. Similarly, induction chemotherapy also did not show a survival benefit, even after stage matching.

Update on olfactory neuroblastoma

Olfactory neuroblastomas are uncommon malignancies that arise from olfactory receptor cells located high in the nasal cavity. Accurate diagnosis plays a crucial role in determining clinical results and guiding treatment decisions. Diagnosis can be a major challenge for pathologists, especially when dealing with tumours with poor differentiation. The discovery of several molecular and immunohistochemical markers would help to overcome classification difficulties. Due to the paucity of large-scale studies, standardisation of diagnosis, treatment and prediction of outcome remains a challenge. Surgical resection by endoscopic techniques with the addition of postoperative irradiation is the treatment of choice. In addition, it is advisable to consider elective neck irradiation to minimise the risk of nodal recurrence. Molecular characterisation will help not only to make more accurate diagnoses but also to identify specific molecular targets that can be used to develop personalised treatment options tailored to each patient. The present review aims to summarise the current state of knowledge on histopathological diagnosis, the molecular biology and management of this disease.

Olfactory Neuroblastoma Causing Cushing's Syndrome Due to the Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Secretion: A Case Report

Cushing's syndrome is a constellation of features occurring due to high blood cortisol levels. We report a case of a 47-year-old male with a history of recurrent olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). He presented with bilateral lower limb weakness and anosmia and was found to have Cushing's syndrome due to high adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels from an ectopic source, ONB in this case. Serum cortisol and ACTH levels declined after tumor removal.

Upright proton therapy for esthesioneuroblastoma: a single-institution experience

Aim

This study presents an analysis (efficacy and toxicity) of outcomes in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma after pencil beam proton therapy with a fixed beamline in the upright position.

Background

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an extremely rare tumor of sinonasal area located in critical proximity to vital structures. Proton therapy (PT) is often considered the optimal radiation treatment for head-and-neck tumors, although of limited availability. Upright PT delivered using fixed pencil beamline and rotating chair is a fairly promising option.

Methods

This is a single-center experience describing the outcomes of PT in 14 patients with ENB treated between January 2016 and October 2022; half of the cases had a history of previous irradiation. The therapy was applied using a fixed pencil beamline with 6D-chair for positioning. The median dose was 63 GyRBE (total range 48-70 GyRBE; based on 1.1 RBE multiplier for protons) with 2.0 GyRBE per fraction. The mean gross tumor volume was 109.5 cm3 (17.1-257.7 cm3). Patient demography, pathology, treatment parameters and toxicity data were analyzed. Radiation-induced reactions were assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v 4.0.

Results

The median follow-up time was 28 months. The 1- and 2-year locoregional control rates constituted 100% and 88.9%, respectively; the median duration of local control was 52 months. The 1- and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates constituted 92.9% and 75.0%, respectively; the median PFS duration was 52 months. The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates constituted 92.9% and 84.4%, respectively. Two patients died of non-cancer-related causes (coronavirus-induced pneumonia) and 1 patient died of tumor progression. All patients tolerated PT well without any treatment gaps. Serious late toxicity reactions included glaucoma in 1 patient and cataract in 2 patients, in over half a year since irradiation.

Conclusion

PT with upright design of the unit affords promising outcomes in terms of disease control and toxicity rates in ENB, a sinonasal tumor of complicated localization.

Radiographic predictors of occult intracranial involvement in olfactory neuroblastoma patients

BACKGROUND

Traditional management of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) includes margin-negative resection with removal of cribriform plate, dura, and olfactory bulb, regardless of intracranial disease. This approach may be overtreating certain patients. Our investigation examines risk factors associated with occult intracranial disease to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective, multi-institutional cohort study examined clinical covariates associated with occult intracranial involvement. Patient demographics, staging, Hyam's grade, and pathologic involvement of dura, olfactory bulb/tract, and brain were collected. Diagnostic imaging was reviewed. Positive and negative predictive value (NPV) were estimated along with effect size estimates. Cox hazard regression examined associations with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

A total of 224 subjects with new diagnoses of ONB (2005-2021) were identified. Skull base bone involvement on computed tomography (CT) had the highest NPV for pathologic dura (88.0%), olfactory bulb (88%), and brain involvement (97.3%). Hyam's grade category was significantly associated with dural involvement (φC  = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.42). Subjects without radiologic skull base involvement (n = 66) had pathologic positivity of 12.1%. Within this subgroup, Hyam's grade was clinically significant for dural positivity (φ = 0.34; 95% CI: -0.12, 0.71) with 28.6% involvement in high grade tumors. Neither clinical nor pathologic positivity of intracranial structures were associated with significantly different OS or DFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Both CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had reasonably good NPV for involvement of dura and olfactory bulb. Higher Hyam's grade was associated with dural involvement. Patients with low-grade tumors not involving the skull base may be suitable for avoiding skull base resection; however, further investigation is warranted.

Failure Patterns of Recurrence in Patients With Localized Esthesioneuroblastoma Following Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy Without Elective Nodal Irradiation

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), a rare malignancy arising from the olfactory epithelium, poses clinical challenges owing to its propensity for local invasion and recurrence. Its management typically involves surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. However, debate persists regarding the optimal treatment strategy, particularly the use of elective nodal irradiation (ENI). This study aimed to investigate recurrence patterns in patients with localized ENB treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy without ENI.

METHODS

Our retrospective analysis included patients who underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy for treatment of ENB between January 2011 and November 2022. Patients with incomplete data or who had received neoadjuvant radiotherapy were excluded. Patient characteristics, radiotherapy data (type, dose, and duration), and follow-up data were collected. Recurrence patterns were evaluated, and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local control rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Twelve patients with ENB (median age, 56 years) were included. Most had stage C disease. The median radiation dose was 60 Gy, and the median treatment duration was six weeks. Only one death was confirmed during the observation period, and the five-year DFS rates were 64.3%. Local control was achieved in 11 patients, with only one experiencing local recurrence. Regional lymph node recurrence occurred in three patients and was successfully managed via neck dissection. The timing of recurrence varied, emphasizing the importance of long-term surveillance.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant radiotherapy without ENI is a viable treatment option for ENB, resulting in favorable local control and OS outcomes. Regional lymph node metastases were observed but effectively managed via salvage therapy. Prospective studies with larger cohorts are warranted to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment strategy and to define optimal radiotherapy fields.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of esthesioneuroblastoma-a retrospective study from South India

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) or olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant neoplasm arising from the neural crest cells of the olfactory epithelium. The optimum treatment for this rare disease is still unclear. Most of the available literature on this rare head and neck tumour is limited to small retrospective series and single institutional reports. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the clinical profile, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with ENB treated at a tertiary cancer centre in south India. Patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ENB treated from 2000 to 2019 were included. Patient demographics, tumour characteristics, stage, treatment details and outcome data were identified from medical records. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used for comparison. The prognostic factors were identified using Cox regression analysis. Forty-two patients underwent treatment for ENB from 2000 to 2019. Twenty-six patients underwent surgery. Twelve patients received radical radiotherapy (RT) while 24 patients underwent adjuvant radiation. After a median follow-up of 71 months, the estimated OS and DFS at 4 years were 64.4% and 54%, respectively. The estimated 4-year OS for modified Kadish A, B, C and D stages was 75.0%, 90.9%, 56.4% and 0%, respectively. Modified Kadish stage, nodal involvement, orbital invasion, intracranial extension, surgery, RT treatment and use of chemotherapy were significant predictors of OS and DFS in univariate Cox regression analysis. Orbital invasion and RT treatment were significant predictors of DFS in the multivariate analysis as well. However, only RT treatment came out to be a significant predictor for OS in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant RT may improve local control and survival in advanced cases. Advanced modified Kadish stage, lymph node involvement and orbital invasion are associated with poor outcomes.

Induction Chemotherapy for Locoregionally Advanced Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) are two of the most common, high-grade malignancies of the sinonasal cavity. The standard of care for resectable lesions per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines includes surgical resection with negative margins plus adjuvant radiation therapy. However, surgery for locally advanced disease with both orbital and intracranial involvement is associated with significant morbidity and poor overall survival. Over the last decade, induction chemotherapy (IC) has emerged as part of a multimodal treatment strategy to optimize locoregional disease control and minimize substantial surgical morbidity such as orbital exenteration without compromising rates of overall survival. The response to IC both guides additional therapy and helps prognosticate a patient's disease. This narrative review examines the data surrounding the management of patients with SNSCC and SNUC. The pros and cons of upfront surgical management plus adjuvant therapy will be explored, and the case for IC will be presented. The IC-specific regimens and treatment paradigms for SNSCC and SNUC will each be explored in detail. Organ preservation, treatment morbidity, and survival data will be presented, and evidence-based recommendations will be presented for the management of these patients.

The Role of Induction Therapy for Sinonasal Cancers

OPINION STATEMENT

The role of induction chemotherapy in sinonasal cancers is promising; however, prospective studies with higher grades of evidence are needed. With the currently available literature, the authors would advocate for the use of induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (T3-T4) for organ preservation and potentially for improved survival outcomes. In sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), IC should be considered in all patients given its tendency for aggressive invasion and poor outcomes. In SNUC, response to IC may direct the modality of definitive treatment to follow. In responders (partial or complete), chemoradiation therapy should be strongly considered. In non-responders or in those with progression of disease, surgical therapy is favored. For esthesioneuroblastoma, surgical resection with negative margins and adjuvant radiation therapy remains the gold standard. However, IC may be considered for locally advanced disease especially with orbital invasion or in recurrent/distant disease. There is no definite indication for IC in sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma or sinonasal adenocarcinoma. Recommendations are summarized in Table 1.

Experiences and Outcomes in Olfactory Neuroblastoma Over A Decade at a Tertiary Cancer Center

Background  Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare epithelial malignancy arising from the odorant receptors in the nasal mucosa or along the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. Clinical presentation includes nasal stuffiness, local pain, epistaxis, anosmia, visual impairment, proptosis, headache, and seizures. Radiologic imaging with CT or MRI, an ophthalmic evaluation, and histopathologic confirmation with immunohistochemistry are parts of the initial diagnostic workup. Although surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have an equally important role in the management, earlier stages may preferably be treated with surgery or radiotherapy and the later stages with a multimodality approach. Materials and Methods  We conducted a retrospective review of 13 patients diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma, registered at Mehdi Nawaz Jung Regional Cancer Center over a decade (2010-2019). We analyzed the age and sex distribution, performance status at presentation, clinical symptomatology, and the Kadish stage. In addition, the therapeutic aspects of patients were studied. Results  The most common presentation noted was nasal stuffiness, followed by epistaxis and proptosis. The majority of patients had good performance status at presentation. Ten patients presented with a Kadish stage C, while the remaining patients presented with Kadish stage B. Cervical nodal metastasis was seen in three patients, four patients received multimodality treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, two patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation, two patients received only surgery, and one patient received surgery followed by adjuvant radiation. Conformal radiation techniques were used to deliver doses as high as 50 to 66 Gy in 2 Gy per fraction. Two patients presented with distant metastasis during follow-up, one with bone metastasis, and the other with retroperitoneal nodal metastasis; they received palliative chemotherapy and conformal radiation to the primary site. Conclusion  This study concludes that neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation gives the best outcomes. It has been observed that in multi-modality treatment, radiotherapy played a significant role in improving overall survival and better outcomes. Multidisciplinary discussions provide a better sequencing of management.

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.

Association of Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status With Esthesioneuroblastoma Presentation, Treatment, and Survival

Objective

Socioeconomic and other demographic factors are associated with outcomes in head and neck cancer. This study uses a national cancer database to explore how patient race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with esthesioneuroblastoma outcomes, including 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS), conditional DSS, stage at diagnosis, and treatment.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting

Patients with esthesioneuroblastomas between 1973 and 2015 from the SEER registry (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results).

Methods

The National Cancer Institute Yost Index, a census tract–level composite score composed of 7 parameters, was used to categorize the SES of patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were conducted to assess DSS. Conditional DSS was calculated per estimates from simplified Cox models. Logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for advanced cancer stage at diagnosis and the likelihood of receiving multimodal therapy.

Results

Complete data were included for 561 patients. DSS was significantly associated with SES (log-rank, P < .01) but not race. According to Cox regression, DSS was worse for the lowest SES tertile vs the highest (hazard ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.05-2.75]; P = .03). Patients of the lowest SES tertile exhibited an increased risk of advanced cancer stage at diagnosis as compared with the highest SES tertile (odds ratio, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.06-3.30]; P = .035). Black patients (odds ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.24-0.84]; P = .011) were less likely than other patients to receive multimodal therapy. SES alone was not associated with receiving multimodal therapy.

Conclusion

SES is significantly associated with DSS and conditional DSS for patients with esthesioneuroblastomas. Inequalities in access to care and treatment likely contribute to these disparities.

Radiation-Induced Olfactory Neuroblastoma Following Treatment for NK/T-cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type

Radiation-induced olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon neoplasm that is generally associated with a poor prognosis. We experienced an unusual case of ONB in a patient who had received previous radiation therapy for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma 15 years previously. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with radiation-induced ONB obtaining a complete response (CR) with radical re-irradiation alone. The purpose of this report is to discuss therapeutic strategies for radiation-induced ONB. We report an unusual case of ONB suspected to be a radiation-induced neoplasm in a 33-year-old female who had received 30 Gy of irradiation for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (NTCL) 15 years earlier. In this case, the patient presented with nasal obstruction and frequent epistaxis. The patient was diagnosed with ONB based on left nasal biopsy findings. The surrounding normal tissues tolerance of nasal ONB radiation had to be limited, because the previously radiated NTCL was located adjacent to critical organs. We performed intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which could offer precise irradiation (60 Gy in 2 Gy daily fractions) while sparing critical tissues. The present case was treated with radiation therapy alone, whereas previously reported cases were treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We treated radiation-induced OBN successfully with radical re-irradiation using IMRT alone and the patient has had no recurrence for 3 years.

Absence of Survival Improvement for Patients with Esthesioneuroblastoma Over the Past 2 Decades: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare malignancy of the sinonasal tract and its infrequency has confounded efforts at clearly describing the survival trends associated with this neoplasm over the years. In this study, we reviewed survival trends in ENB and investigated the impact of treatment extent and modality on patient outcomes.

METHODS

We accessed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) program to identify ENB cases from 1998 to 2016. A χ² test was used to compare the categorical covariates and a t test or Mann-Whitney U test was utilized for continuous variables. The impact of prognostic factors on survival was computed using a Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. We divided ENB patients into 4 periods including 1998-2002, 2003-2007, 2008-2012, and 2013-2016, and investigated survival trends using the Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test.

RESULTS

ENB patients who underwent biopsy alone were associated with older age, larger tumor diameter, increased rates of tumor extension, nodal/distant metastases, and advanced stages as compared with patients undergoing tumor resection. Our results also demonstrated that surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy could confer survival advantages, whereas chemotherapy was associated with reduced survival in patients with ENB. Over the past 2 decades, surprisingly, there has been no change in survival rates for patient with ENB (P = 0.793).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite advanced diagnostic studies and modernized treatment approaches, ENB survival has remained unchanged over the years, calling for improved efforts to develop appropriate individualized interventions for this rare tumor entity. Our results also confirmed that surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved patient survival whereas the use of chemotherapy should be considered carefully.

Long-Term Outcomes of Olfactory Neuroblastoma: MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare sinonasal malignant neoplasm that is known to develop late recurrence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with ONB and to determine the factors associated with prognosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of 139 patients diagnosed with ONB at MD Anderson Cancer Center was performed between 1991 and 2016. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to assess survival.

RESULTS

Median follow-up time was 75 months. Overall, 129 patients (92.8%) had surgery as part of their treatment and 82 (58.9%) patients received postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Endoscopic approaches were utilized for 72 patients, 69.4% of whom had pure endoscopic endonasal approaches. Five-year overall survival and disease-specific survival were 85.6% and 93.4%, respectively. Recurrence rate was 39.6% with a median time to recurrence of 42 months. Among the 31 patients who received elective nodal irradiation (ENI), two patients developed neck recurrence (6.4%) compared with 20 who developed neck recurrence when ENI was omitted (34.4%) (P = .003). Advanced Kadish stage, orbital invasion, intracranial invasion, and presence of cervical lymphadenopathy at the time of presentation were significantly associated with poor survival.

CONCLUSION

ONB has an excellent survival. Surgical resection with PORT when indicated is the mainstay of treatment. Endoscopic approaches can be used as a good tool. Elective neck irradiation reduces the risk of nodal recurrence among patients with clinically N0 neck. Despite the excellent survival, recurrence rate remains high and delayed, highlighting the need for long-term surveillance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4 Laryngoscope, 2021.

The Treatment Outcomes of Olfactory Neuroblastoma Patients With Frontal Lobe Invasion

Background

To investigate whether frontal lobe invasion (FLI) was an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), and to explore the optimal treatment strategy for ONB patients with FLI.

Methods

Some 37 patients with FLI were retrospectively studied, and 74 well-matched patients without FLI were enrolled as the control group. The long-term survivals were compared between the two groups.

Results

No significant differences were found between the two groups in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (all p >0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that FLI wasn't an independent predictor for OS (HR = 1.100, 95% CI = 0.437-2.772, p = 0.840). Among the 37 patients with FLI, patients who received surgery combined with chemo-/radiotherapy showed better OS (89.4% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.001) and PFS (87.8% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.001) compared with those who didn't undergo surgery.

Conclusions

FLI wasn't a poor prognostic factor for ONB patients. Endoscopic resection combined with radiotherapy was an effective therapeutic method for ONB patients with FLI.

Survival Associations between Patient Age and Treatment Modality in Olfactory Neuroblastoma: A Retrospective Population-Based Study

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare neuroepithelial-derived malignancy that usually presents in the nasal cavity. The rarity of ONB has led to conflicting reports regarding associations of patient age and ONB survival and outcome. Moreover, long-term outcomes of chemotherapy and other treatment modalities are speculated. Here, we aimed to compare survival outcomes across age groups through time and determine associations between treatment modality and survival. In this retrospective population-based study, we analyzed the SEER 2000–2016 Database for patients with ONB tumors. Using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, a significant effect of age and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was observed; geriatric ONB patients had the lowest CSS overall. Generalized linear models and survival analyses demonstrated that CSS of the pediatric patient population was similar to the geriatric group through 100 months but plateaued thereafter and was the highest of all age groups. Radiation and surgery were associated with increased CSS, while chemotherapy was associated with decreased CSS. GLM results showed that tumor grade, stage and lymph node involvement had no CSS associations with age or treatment modality. Our results provide insight for future investigations of long-term outcomes associated with ONB patient age and treatment modality, and we conclude that survival statistics of ONB patients should be analyzed in terms of trends through time rather than fixed in time.

Model to predict cause-specific mortality in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma: a competing risk analysis

Purpose

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the cumulative incidence of cause-specific mortality and other causes of mortality for patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). The secondary aim was to model the probability of cause-specific death and build a competing risk nomogram to predict cause-specific mortality for this disease.

Methods

Patients with ONB from 1975 to 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We estimated the cumulative incidence function (CIF) for cause-specific mortality and other causes of mortality, and constructed the Fine and Gray’s proportional subdistribution hazard model, as well as a competing-risk nomogram based on Fine and Gray’s model, to predict the probability of cause-specific mortality for patients with ONB.

Results

After data selection, 826 cases were included for analysis. Five-year cumulative incidence of cause-specific mortality was 19.5% and cumulative incidence of other causes of mortality was 11.3%. Predictors of cause-specific mortality for ONB included tumor stage, surgery and chemotherapy. Age was most strongly predictive of other causes of mortality: patients aged > 60 years exhibited subdistribution hazard ratios of 1.063 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.08; p = 0.001). The competing risk nomogram for cause-specific mortality was well-calibrated, and had good discriminative ability (concordance index = 0.79).

Conclusions

We calculated the CIF of cause-specific mortality and other causes of mortality in patients with the rare malignancy ONB. We also built the first competing risk nomogram to provide useful individualized predictive information for patients with ONB.

A population-based analysis of clinical features and lymph node dissection in head and neck malignant neurogenic tumors

Background

The influence of lymph node dissection (LND) on survival in patients with head and neck neurogenic tumors remains unclear. We aimed to determine the effect of LND on the outcomes of patients with head and neck neurogenic tumors.

Methods

Data of patients with surgically treated head and neck neurogenic tumors were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1975–2016) to investigate the relationship between LND and clinical outcomes by survival analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed in IVa and IVb group.

Results

In total, 662 head and neck neurogenic tumor patients (median age: 49.0 [0–91.0] years) met the inclusion criteria, of whom 13.1% were in the IVa group and 86.9% were in the IVb group. The median follow-up time was 76.0 months (range: 6.0–336.0 months), and the 5-year and 10-year overall survival was 82.4% (95% CI, 0.79–0.85) and 69.0% (95% CI, 0.64–0.73). Cox regression analysis revealed older age (P < .001), advanced stage (P = .037), African American race (P = .002), diagnosis before 2004 (P < .001), and chemotherapy administration (P < .001) to be independent negative predictors of overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that LND was not a predictor of clinical nodal negativity (cN0) in either IVa or IVb patients.

Conclusions

In head and neck neurogenic patients, LND may not impact the outcome of cN0 in either IVa or IVb group. These data can be recommended in guiding surgical plan and future studies.

Characteristics and overall survival in pediatric versus adult esthesioneuroblastoma: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon sinonasal malignancy and is even less common in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to compare characteristics and outcomes of ENB between adult and pediatric patients.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with histologically proven ENB of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and then baseline characteristics, treatment, and survival data compared between the pediatric (age < 18 years) and adult (age ≥ 18 years) populations.

RESULTS

1411 patients were identified, with 45 in the pediatric cohort and 1366 in the adult cohort. Ten-year overall survival (OS) in the pediatric cohort was improved compared to the adult cohort, 87% and 66%, respectively (p < 0.05). Adjuvant chemotherapy was more commonly utilized in the pediatric cohort (p < 0.001). Race was associated with decreased OS in the pediatric cohort (p = 0.013). Pediatric patients had shorter length of stay (p = 0.009) and lived closer to their provider (p = 0.044) than adult ENB patients.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of ENB in pediatric patients more commonly includes chemotherapy and more commonly occurs at academic medical centers. OS is improved in pediatric ENB compared to adults as well, but larger studies are necessary.

Outcomes and Quality-of-Life Measures after Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Kadish Stage C Olfactory Neuroblastomas

OBJECTIVE

The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been applied in the treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). However, there is a lack of research examining the impact of EEA on locally advanced ONB. This study assessed the outcomes of EEA in patients with locally advanced ONB and its impact on the quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with Kadish stage C ONB who underwent EEA between December 2004 and October 2019 and assessed demographic data, histopathologic grade, the extent of resection, postoperative complications, and outcomes. Preoperative and postoperative QOL was assessed using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (18 men, 8 women; aged 26-79 years) were enrolled, with 12 cases of Hyams grade II and III and 1 case of grade I and IV each. In total, 25 patients received radiotherapy and 16 patients received chemotherapy, of whom 11 received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Postoperative nasal bleeding was observed in 2 patients. The follow-up ranged from 8 to 124 months (median, 42.3 months). The 1-year and 5-year overall survival were 96.2% and 84.8%, respectively. The 1-year and 5-year disease-free survival were 76.9% each. The analysis of the postoperative Sino-Nasal Outcome Test scores showed significant improvement in certain psychological and sleep-associated domains, compared with the preoperative scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that pure EEA followed by radiotherapy offered excellent outcomes in the management of selected patients with locally advanced ONB. The postoperative QOL was significantly improved. More research is required on neoadjuvant chemotherapy to establish its role.

Geographic and Socioeconomic Factors on Survival in Esthesioneuroblastoma

OBJECTIVES

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare sinonasal malignancy with little known regarding how regional and socioeconomic differences in the United States alter disease survival. The aim of this study is to explore the geographic difference in clinical features, socioeconomic factors, and survival outcomes of ENB patients.

METHODS

ENB cases were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 1975-2016. Patient data were stratified based on geographical location and comparative analyses of socioeconomic features, disease characteristics, and survival patterns were performed. Kaplan-Meier regression analyses were used to estimate disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

A total of 987 patients were identified: 56.4% West, 14.0% South, 12.7% Midwest, and 16.6% East. The West had the highest proportion of patients with Medicaid coverage (P < .001), stage A malignancy (P < .001), and treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (P < .001). The South had the highest proportion of patients who were Black (P < .001), uninsured (P < .001), and resided in rural areas (P < .001). Five-year DSS patterns were 81.0% (West), 79.8% (East), 67.4% (Midwest), and 72.7% (South) [P = .018]. Ten-year DSS outcomes were 74.0% (West), 73.7% (East), 60.9% (Midwest), and 63.6% (South) [P = .017].

CONCLUSION

In ENB patients, survival disparity exists in the United States based on geographical region. Patients from the West and East exhibit higher survival than those from the South and Midwest.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2162-E2168, 2021.

Comparison of Incidence and Outcomes of Neuroblastoma in Children, Adolescents, and Adults in the United States: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program Population Study

Background

This United States (U.S.) population study aimed to compare the incidence of neuroblastoma and outcomes in children, adolescents, and adults using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program database.

Material/Methods

Patients with neuroblastoma were identified in the SEER database from 1975 to 2013. According to the age at diagnosis, patients were divided into “Children” (≤14 years old) and “Adolescents/Adults” group (>14 years old). Then, comparisons in basic characteristics, incidence rates (IRs) and long-term survival outcomes between patients in 2 groups were made.

Results

A total of 4280 patients were identified, including 3998 children and 282 adolescent/adult patients. Adolescent/adult patients were more likely to have localized diseases than children and to be diagnosed with ganglioneuroblastoma (all P<0.05). The IR of neuroblastoma presented with upward and downward trends in children and adolescent/adult populations, respectively. Adolescents/adults had worse overall survival (OS) than children despite the earlier tumor stage. Lastly, multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses showed that tumor stage, histology, sequence of primary malignancy, primary site, the administration of surgery, and treatment era were prognostic factors for children, and sequence of primary malignancy, primary site, undergoing surgery, and treatment era were tightly related to OS in adolescent/adult patients.

Conclusions

Analysis of the SEER program database between 1975 to 2013 showed that in the U.S., the incidence of neuroblastoma in children increased, but the incidence decreased in adolescents and adults. There was a trend for improved overall survival in all age groups despite the increased stage at presentation in children.

Long-term analysis of multimodality treatment outcomes and prognosis of esthesioneuroblastomas: a single center results of 138 patients

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment strategies and the potential prognostic factors of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB).

Materials and methods

Between April 1984 and December 2018, 138 patients with non-metastatic ENB were retrospectively analyzed. The treatment modalities mainly included surgery alone (n = 7), radiotherapy alone (n = 33), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n = 17), surgery combined with current chemoradiotherapy (n = 32), and surgery plus radiotherapy (n = 49).

Results

The median follow-up time for the entire cohort was 61 months (range, 4–231 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate were 69.6, 78.0 and 73.9%, respectively. Surgery combined with radiotherapy elicited superior survival results, and the combination of surgery and current chemoradiotherapy achieved the best prognoses for all patients, patients with advanced Kadish disease, patients receiving intensity modulated radiation therapy and those with positive surgical margin. Univariate analysis identified orbital invasion and treatment modalities were predictors for OS, LRFFS and DMFS. Lymph node metastasis was associated with OS and DMFS, but not LRFFS. Intracranial invasion, advanced Kadish stage and not receiving concurrent chemotherapy were also predictive of lower OS. Multivariate analyses indicated that lymph node metastasis was an independent prognostic factor affecting DMFS, whereas treatment modalities was independent prognostic factors for OS and LRFFS.

Conclusion

Orbital invasion, intracranial invasion, lymph node metastasis and advanced Kadish disease at initial diagnosis were significantly associated with inferior prognosis. Regarding the treatment modality, the optimal strategy remined surgery with radiotherapy-based multimodality treatment. The concurrent chemoradiotherapy may play a more beneficial role.

Extensive tumor calcification in response to pre-operative reductive chemotherapy in pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma: a case report

Esthesioneuroblastomas are uncommon tumors in pediatric patients and are typically treated with multimodal therapy. Changes in gross tumor quality and character in response to adjuvant treatment have not been clearly reported. We report the case of a 15-year-old female with a diagnosis of Kadish stage C esthesioneuroblastoma who was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection. The patient's tumor demonstrated cytoreduction after chemotherapy but also was found to have calcified. A combined trans-frontal sinus craniotomy with endoscopic endonasal resection was performed and resulted in negative margins and good clinical outcome.

Radiation therapy strategies for skull-base malignancies

INTRODUCTION

The management of skull base malignancies continues to evolve with improvements in surgical technique, advances in radiation delivery and novel systemic agents.

METHODS

In this review, we aim to discuss in detail the management of common skull base pathologies which typically require multimodality therapy, focusing on the radiotherapeutic aspects of care.

RESULTS

Technological advances in the administration of radiation therapy have led to a wide variety of different treatment strategies for the treatment of skull base malignances, with outcomes summarized herein.

CONCLUSION

Radiation treatment plays a key and critical role in the management of patients with skull base tumors. Recent advancements continue to improve the risk/benefit ratio for radiotherapy in this setting.

Intensity-modulated particle beam radiation therapy in the management of olfactory neuroblastoma

Background

To report the clinical experience and short-term efficacy in the management of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 12 ONB patients treated with particle beam radiation therapy (PBRT) between 12/2015 and 5/2019 at the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center. Four (33.3%) patients presented with Kadish B ONB, and 8 (66.7%) presented with Kadish C or D disease. Eleven patients received proton radiotherapy (PRT) followed by a carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) boost, one patient received CIRT only. The 2-year survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Acute and late adverse events were summarized and scored according to the CTCAE (version 4.03).

Results

With a median follow-up of 17.5 (range, 2.53–49.9) months, all patients but 1 were alive. Eight patients were alive without evidence of disease, and 2 additional patients achieved partial response and remained alive with residual disease. One patient died of toxicity associated with salvage chemotherapy for distant metastasis and local failure. Another patient developed distant metastasis only and was alive at the time of the last follow-up. The 2-year OS, PFS, LRPFS, and DMFS rates were 83.3%, 75.8%, 87.5%, and 79.5%, respectively. No acute or late toxicities of ≥ grade 3 was observed.

Conclusions

Intensity modulated PBRT of ONB is well tolerated. While longer follow-up is needed, early outcomes suggested that PBRT is safe and effective for the treatment of ONB with minimal adverse events.

Chemotherapy in Esthesioneuroblastoma/Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 1973-2015 Database

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy has been proposed as an adjunct to primary local therapy in esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB)/olfactory neuroblastoma (ON), but its role has not been precisely defined. Here, we evaluated its role in ENB treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was queried for ENB/ON (International Classification of Diseases-3 9522). Cases met criteria for inclusion if they were unique, had a primary location in the nasal cavity, and had adequate information for Kadish staging derivation. Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses assessed chemotherapy treatment effect on disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Multiple imputation addressed missing data. A P<0.05 was designated for statistical significance.

RESULTS

In adjusted multivariable analyses, chemotherapy treatment was associated with inferior DSS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-2.51; P=0.003) and OS (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.26-2.32; P=0.001). Among the subset with local or regional disease treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy, chemotherapy remained associated with inferior outcomes DSS (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.63-4.74; P<0.001) and OS (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.45-3.27; P<0.001). Chemotherapy treatment misclassification did not explain these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis does not support chemotherapy to improve either DSS or OS in primary ENB/ON treatment, after controlling for known ENB prognostic factors available from SEER. Other prognostic and treatment selection factors could exist which were not controlled in these analyses. Chemotherapy could beneficially affect outcomes other than DSS or OS. Although the concerns have been expressed regarding chemotherapy treatment misclassification in SEER, their analyses did not identify such misclassification as an explanation for our findings.

Prognostic factors and outcomes of multimodality treatment in olfactory neuroblastoma

OBJECTIVE

The clinical data on olfactory neuroblastomas (ONBs) are scarce owing to their rarity. This study aimed to assess the potential prognostic factors, outcomes, and optimal treatment strategies in patients with ONB.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The data of 217 patients with ONB between 1991 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term survival, potential prognostic factors, and outcomes with combined treatment strategies were analyzed.

RESULTS

All patients received radiotherapy (RT); 185 patients underwent surgery, and 139 patients received chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of the entire cohort were 80.0%, 79.0%, 79.3%, and 80%, respectively. On univariate analyses, R0/R1 resection, early Kadish stage, negative lymph nodes, absence of orbital invasion, and administration of surgery with RT were found to be favorable factors. Conversely, combined sequential treatment with surgery, RT, and chemotherapy was not associated with survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated lymph node status, orbital invasion, and the combination of surgery and RT to be independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ONB, who had lymph node metastases, orbital invasion diseases, advanced Kadish stages, R2 resection margins, and received RT alone, had poor outcomes. Combined administration of surgery and RT may be a potentially useful strategy in patients with advanced Kadish stages; the role of chemotherapy in these stages requires further evaluation.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: A Patterns-of-Care and Outcomes Analysis of the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

The available literature to guide treatment decision making in esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To define treatment patterns and outcomes in ENB according to treatment modality using a large national cancer registry.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective cohort analysis of 931 patients with a diagnosis of ENB who were treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy in the United States between the years of 2004 and 2012. Log-rank statistics were used to compare overall survival by primary treatment modality. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify predictors of receipt of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine the survival benefit of PORT. Subgroup analyses identified subgroups that derived the greatest benefit of PORT.

RESULTS

Primary surgery was the most common treatment modality (90%) and resulted in superior survival compared to radiation (P < .01) or chemotherapy (P < .01). On multivariate analysis, PORT was associated with decreased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53, P < .01). PORT showed a survival benefit in Kadish stage C (HR 0.42, P < .01) and D (HR 0.09, P = .01), but not Kadish A (HR 1.17, P = .74) and B (HR 1.37, P = .80). Patients who received chemotherapy derived greater benefit from PORT (HR 0.22, P < .01) compared with those who did not (HR 0.68, P = .13). Predictors of PORT included stage, grade, extent of resection, and chemotherapy use.

CONCLUSION

Best outcomes were obtained in patients undergoing primary surgery. The benefit of PORT was driven by patients with stages C and D disease, and by those also receiving chemotherapy.

[Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the auditory, olfactory, and visual sensory organs]

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are infrequent in sensory organs. There are well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms that should be classified as neuroendocrine tumors, in analogy to their gastrointestinal counterparts, however the nomenclature is inconsistent. The best defined entities are neuroendocrine tumors in the middle ear and ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid region. Poorly differentiated NENs most often arise in the olfactory organ and nasal cavity that are represented by olfactory neuroblastomas and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. They have several mimickers such as the sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, mucosal malignant melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Head and neck cancer during pregnancy

BACKGROUND

The incidence of cancer during pregnancy is low but is slightly increasing. Data on incidence and etiology of head and neck (HN) cancers in pregnant women are rare. We evaluated the frequency, tumor type, associated factors, and specific biomarkers in HN cancers occurring in pregnant (and peripartum) women.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, for any HN tumor site occurring in pregnant women.

RESULTS

Sixty cases of HN cancers occurring during pregnancy were identified. Most of them were oral cavity cancers. Relationships with oncogenic viruses, hormonal disturbance, and shift in maternal immunity profile were identified.

CONCLUSION

Carcinogenesis of HN cancers in pregnant women may be led by different cancer type-specific hallmarks. Relevance of these etiological factors with respect to treatments and birth control recommendations is being investigated by the REFCOR in an ambispective study.

Endonasal endoscopic resection of olfactory neuroblastoma: an 11-year experience

OBJECTIVE

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the sinonasal cavity. Surgery has been and remains a mainstay of treatment for patients with this tumor. Open craniofacial resections have been the treatment of choice for many decades. More recently, experience has been growing with endoscopic approaches in the management of patients with ONB. The object of this study is to report the authors' experience over the past 11 years with ONB patients treated with purely endonasal endoscopic techniques.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 20 consecutive patients with ONB who underwent a completely endonasal endoscopic approach for an oncological tumor resection at their institution between January 2006 and January 2017. Patient demographics, tumor stage, pathological grade, frozen section analysis, permanent margin assessment, perioperative complications, postoperative therapy, length of follow-up, and outcomes at last follow-up were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients presented with newly diagnosed disease, with a modified Kadish stage of A in 2 cases, B in 3, C in 11, and D in 2. Two patients presented with recurrent tumors. An average of 25.3 specimens per patient were examined by frozen section analysis. Although analysis of intraoperative frozen section margins was negative in all but 1 case, microscopic foci of tumor were found in 7 cases (35%) on permanent histopathological analysis. Perioperative complications occurred in 7 patients (35%) including 1 patient who developed a cerebrospinal fluid leak; there were no episodes of meningitis. All but 1 patient received postoperative radiotherapy, and 5 patients received postoperative chemotherapy. With a mean follow-up of over 5 years, 19 patients were alive and 1 patient died from an unrelated cause. There were 2 cases of tumor recurrence. The 5-year overall, disease-specific, and recurrence-free survival rates were 92.9%, 100%, and 92.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results provide additional evidence for the continued use of endoscopic procedures in the management of this malignancy.

Hyams grading as a predictor of metastasis and overall survival in esthesioneuroblastoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, represents up to 3% of all sinonasal neoplasms. Hyams histologic grading is a promising tool in predicting metastases and establishing prognoses for this complex tumor.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases. ENB patients with Hyams I-II or III-IV were categorized as low-grade Hyams (LGH) or high-grade Hyams (HGH), respectively. Binary and continuous random-effects models were applied to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the incidences of neck and distal metastases as well as for 5- and 10-year overall survival rates.

RESULTS

Of the 57 screened articles published from 1993 to 2018, 16 (525 patients) and 21 (563 patients) provided data for tumor metastases and overall survival rates, respectively. Neck metastasis was observed in 18.2% of HGH vs 7.9% of LGH patients. Distant metastasis was noted in 20.7% of HGH vs 8.9% of LGH patients. LGH patients had 5- and 10-year overall survival rates of 81.2% and 64.0%, respectively, as compared with 60.9% and 40.6%, respectively, for HGH patients. In comparing HGHs vs LGHs, the collective ORs for neck and distant metastases were 2.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.99; p = 0.03) and 2.37 (95% CI, 1.07-5.26; p = 0.03), respectively. Moreover, in comparing LGHs vs HGHs, collective ORs for 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 3.39 (95% CI, 2.09-5.49; p < 0.001) and 3.03 (95% CI, 1.82-5.06; p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

HGH ENBs, compared with LGH ENBs, are more likely to metastasize to neck or distal targets and to have lower overall survival rates.

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.

Heavily Calcified Esthesioneuroblastoma in a 72-year-old

A 72-year-old female presented with the complaint of declining vision. Workup included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed a large enhancing mass extending into the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and anterior cranial fossa. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed extensive calcification. Subsequent endonasal biopsy revealed the tumor to be an unusually calcified esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). The patient elected for palliative measures. The case provides a basis for a discussion on rare esthesioneuroblastomas and highlights the possibility of extensive calcification on such tumors.

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.

Comparing Kadish, TNM, and the modified Dulguerov staging systems for esthesioneuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. The purpose of this study was to compare the Kadish, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM), and Dulguerov's modified TNM staging in order to determine the impact of the stage on primary surgical treatment selection, margin status, and survival.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify patients diagnosed with ENB between 2004 to 2015. Patients were excluded based on the ability to properly stage their disease as well as the availability of treatment data.

RESULTS

Eight-hundred eighty-three patients had sufficient data for analysis. On multivariate analysis, age and government insurance were associated with primary surgical treatment, whereas tumor stage, gender, race, hospital type and volume, and comorbidity score were not. Age, charlson-deyo comorbidity (CDCC) score, hospital volume, and nodal status were found to be predictors of survival. Multivariate-analysis controlling for stage failed to demonstrate clear survival differences between staging in both TNM and Kadish systems. T-stage and the presence of regional nodal metastasis were associated with an increased risk of positive margins on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Although primary surgical management and positive margins can be predicted by certain patient and tumor factors, clinical staging systems for ENB poorly predict prognosis over a 10-year horizon.

Age distribution and age-related outcomes of olfactory neuroblastoma: a population-based analysis

Objective

The objective of the study was to describe the age distribution and to evaluate the role of prognostic value of age on survival in patients diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). A population-based retrospective analysis was conducted.

Materials and methods

The population-based study of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) tumor registry, who were diagnosed with ONB from 1973 to 2014, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The cohort included 876 patients with a median age of 54 years. There was a unimodal distribution of age and ONBs most frequently occurred in the fifth to sixth decades of life. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of 69% and 78% at 5 years. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age, SEER stage, and surgery were independent prognostic factors for CSS. The risk of overall death and cancer-specific death increased 3.1% and 1.6% per year, respectively. Patients aged >60 years presented significantly poor OS and CSS compared with patients aged ≤60 years, even in patients with loco-regional disease or in those treated with surgery.

Conclusion

This study highlights the growing evidence that there is a unimodal age distribution of ONB and that age is an important adverse prognostic factor.

Sinonasal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Current Challenges and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment, with a Focus on Olfactory Neuroblastoma

Sinonasal tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation form a group of rare heterogeneous neoplasms of neuroectodermal and epithelial origin, consisting of olfactory neuroblastomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas. Because the natural history and biological behavior of this group of tumors vary, the morphological diagnosis coupled with grading/staging is important for prognostication, and the approach to treatment and rehabilitation is multidisciplinary. The identification of molecular abnormalities underlying these tumors is critical to the development of specific targeted therapies and the design of clinical trials.

Olfactory neuroblastoma treated with minimally invasive surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy: a case report and review of the literature

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ON) is a rare tumour of the olfactory neuroepithelium that is characterized by a pattern of slow growth and local recurrences. Combination of surgery and radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, is considered to be the standard of care for primary site disease. Recent literature supports the view that endoscopic resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy correlates with better outcome. In this short communication, we present a case report of olfactory neuroblastoma arising in the right nasal sinus in a 34-year-old male. This patient was treated with endoscopic resection and external beam radiotherapy to the right nasal sinus with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique. After 2 years follow-up, the patient is free of tumour without any late effect related to therapies. We believe that, in such patients, a treatment strategy including endoscopic resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy may be effective and feasible and should be considered the gold standard of care.

Outcomes for olfactory neuroblastoma treated with induction chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Oncologic outcomes for induction chemotherapy and its role in patients with advanced olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) remain unclear.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 15 consecutive patients with extensive local invasion and/or nodal disease treated with induction chemotherapy with curative intent followed by definitive local therapy.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were treated with cisplatin and etoposide. The response to chemotherapy was 68% (10/15). Response was 78% (7/9) in the high Hyams high-grade group and 50% (3/6) in the Hyams low-grade group. Seven patients had complete response (CR) and 3 patients were able to avoid orbital exenteration. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 71% and 78%, respectively, with a trend toward improved survival in patients with CR.

CONCLUSION

ONB is a chemosensitive tumor and induction chemotherapy is an acceptable strategy for aggressive and locoregional advanced disease. Hyams grade may predict chemosensitivity and CR may be associated with improved survival.

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.

Optimal treatment and prognostic factors for esthesioneuroblastoma: retrospective analysis of 187 Chinese patients

BACKGROUND

The standard treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare malignant nasal vault neoplasm, is not established.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed the clinicopathological features, prognostic factors and treatment methods for 187 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated in China between 1981 and 2015. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (12.3%), 48 (25.7%) and 113 (60.4%) patients had Kadish stage A, B and C esthesioneuroblastoma; 3 (1.6%) had unknown stage. Overall, 117 (62.6%) patients received surgery and combined radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy; 35 (18.7%) received radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy; 32 (17.1%) received surgery alone; and 3 (1.6%) received palliative treatment. Three-year OS and DFS for the entire cohort were 66.7% and 57.5%, respectively. Three-year OS for stage A, B and C were 91.3%, 91.2% and 49.5% (P < 0.0001). Three-year OS was 16.7% and 66.7% for patients with and without distant metastasis (P < 0.0001). Surgery and combined radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy led to better OS and DFS than other treatment modes (both P < 0.0001). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed distant metastasis (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.162, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.145, 4.082, P = 0.017) and not receiving a combined modality treatment (HR = 2.391, 95% CI = 1.356, 4.218, P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for poor OS and DFS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates surgery and combined radiotherapy may currently be the optimal treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma.