Sphenoidal esthesioneuroblastoma treated with sequential chemo radiotherapy: A case report and review of the literature

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB)-also known as olfactory neuroblastoma-originates primarily from the olfactory epithelium in the roof of the nasal cavity. We present here the 7 (th) reported case of ENB arising from the sphenoidal sinus. We undertook a review of the case notes from the time of initial presentation and literature review of this topic. A 55-year-old male presented with a 3-year history of unilateral progressive nasal obstruction, epistaxis, difficult nasal-breathing, facial pain, frontal headache and blood-tinged discharge. Nasal examination revealed a glistening mass in right nasal cavity. Endoscopy-assisted transnasal excision was performed. Histologically, tumor was identified as small round cell tumor and confirmed by immunohistochemistry to be olfactory neuroblastoma (negative leucocyte common antigen, positive neurone specific enolase). Sphenoidal ENB is rare in the literature, and this presentation is the 7 (th) reported case; in addition, surgical treatment is very challenging, and non-surgical treatment is used most commonly.