Absence of Epstein-Barr virus in olfactory neuroblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
The sinonasal region is a frequent site for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related tumours, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma and malignant lymphoma. Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare neoplasm, arises from olfactory epithelium, is found in the upper nasal cavity, and may be confused morphologically with the above tumours. Our aim was to determine whether EBV is associated with olfactory neuroblastoma.


METHODS
We collected tissue samples for 16 olfactory neuroblastomas over an 11-year period at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. Diagnoses were confirmed from pathological review and immunohistochemistry. We used in situ hybridisation for EBV encoded small RNAs in those tumours.


RESULTS
None of the epithelial cells in the 16 cases of olfactory neuroblastoma was positive for EBV.


CONCLUSIONS
EBV does not play a major role in the aetiology of olfactory neuroblastoma.
Wang
Sheng-Lan
SL
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Li
Shau-Hsuan
SH
Chen
Wan-Tzu
WT
Chai
Chee-Yin
CY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000556:secondary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D012367:RNA, Viral