Esthesioneuroblastomas in an Asian population: similarities and differences.
OBJECTIVE
Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon tumor that is described widely among the Caucasians. In Singapore, we see predominantly Asian patients with esthesioneuroblastomas. From our experience, we note significant and interesting differences between our data on Asian patients and the published ones on the Caucasian patients.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all patients who underwent craniofacial resection for esthesioneuroblastomas was conducted from January 1997 to January 2010. Relevant data were collected and statistical analyses were carried out to determine factors that predicted mortality or complications.


RESULTS
Out of a total of 48 patients who underwent craniofacial resections, half had esthesioneuroblastomas (50%). There was a peak age distribution at the sixth decade of life and 62% of our patients were male. Both local and regional recurrence rate was 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
Majority of our Asian patients who underwent craniofacial resections had esthesioneuroblastomas. There is a male predilection, and we do not see a bimodal age distribution that is commonly reported.
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Christopher Hood Keng
CH
Goh
Dennis Yu Kim
DY
Chua
Rachel Li Wei
RL
Ho
Chumpon
C
Chan
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore; D016896:Treatment Outcome