Malignant and benign sinonasal paragangliomas.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the clinical course and management of sinonasal paragangliomas (PGLs).


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of six patients with PGLs of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.


RESULTS
Three patients had tumors with malignant clinical behavior with cerebral metastases or infiltration of brain and local recurrence, despite surgery and/or radiotherapy, while three patients demonstrated a benign course.


CONCLUSIONS
Sinonasal paragangliomas are frequently malignant. If malignant, they are very aggressive, with rapid local spread as well as high metastatic potential despite surgical resection; and they have a poor prognosis. Malignancy cannot be diagnosed on histology, but only on the basis of clinical behavior. Intracranial metastasis is commonly expected. Long-term follow-up, with particular emphasis put on the intracranial structures, is mandatory as recurrences or metastasis may occur even after a long time interval.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. konpapasp@yahoo.com
Konstantinos
K
Papaspyrou
Hans-Juergen
HJ
Welkoborsky
Haralampos
H
Gouveris
Wolf J
WJ
Mann
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Malignant; benign; paragangliomas; sinonasal