title: Large olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) surgically treated with an Altemir technique modification: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olfactory neuroblastomas are rare malignant tumors that usually occur in the upper nasal cavity. The purpose of this paper is to present a case of a large olfactory neuroblastoma filling the entire nasal cavity, treated with an Altemir technique modification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 39-year-old woman presented with a large tumor of the nasal cavity. After the laboratory examinations, the tumor was classified as a Kadish stage A olfactory neuroblastoma. The selected treatment was the surgical excision after an Altemir technique modification combined with midfacial degloving and additional radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathology revealed a Hyams grade III olfactory neuroblastoma completely removed. Although the patient refused the additional radiotherapy, 18 months postoperatively, there were no signs of recurrence, and the patient shows big improvement on her sense of smell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large olfactory neuroblastomas filling the entire nasal cavity extending back to the postnasal space can be completely removed using a transfacial approach as the Altemir technique modification is.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, "Evangelismos" General Hospital, Dental School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadogeorgakis
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petsinis
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleftheriades
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimtsas
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Protopappa
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexandridis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*