title: Sphenoid esthesioneuroblastoma arising from the hindmost olfactory filament.
abstract: Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), or olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium. Typically, ENBs are found in the olfactory cleft with extension to the ethmoid sinuses or anterior skull base. Here we report a case of ENB located in the sphenoid sinus, which had been considered as an ectopic ENB. However, endoscopic resection revealed the continuity of the tumor with the hindmost olfactory filament. The present case suggests that an ENB in the sphenoid sinus was not ectopic, but arose from the normal olfactory neuroepithelium. This continuity of the ENB with this filament indicated that the tumor was not ectopic, and that there was possible tumor invasion into the olfactory neuroepithelium in the cribriform niche. Therefore, pathological examination of the olfactory neuroepithelium in the cribriform niche may be necessary in case of sphenoid ENBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: tnakagawa@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsunori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Ectopic tumor; Endoscopic surgery; Olfactory neuroblastomas; Sphenoid sinus