title: Sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma: impact of differentiation status on response and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of tumor differentiation on the behavior and response of sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of the patients treated for neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses from 1992 to 2008 at MDACC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of our study suggest that pathologic differentiation may not be a critical factor in the clinical management of patients with NEC of the sinonasal tract. This is in contrast to laryngeal and lung NEC for which pathological differentiation has traditionally guided clinical management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multimodality approach should be the cornerstone of treating sinonasal NEC regardless of their differentiation. Specifically, RT may provide durable local control for patients with moderately differentiated NEC if resection is not feasible or desirable, while surgical resection can benefit patients with chemo-resistant or radio-resistant disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radian Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Likhacheva
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Ehab
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kupferman
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demonte
authors.forename: Adel K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: El-Naggar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult