Treatment Outcome of Olfactory Neuroblastoma: Analysis of 11 Cases

Kim, Hyun Jik; Kim, Chang Hoon; Shin, Yoo Seop; Lee, Hun Suk; Kim, Kyubo; Yoon, Joo Heon

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare tumor arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium, for which surgery is the mainstay of treatment; but there are no generally accepted treatment approaches, according to tumor stage. In this study, we present our experiences with this tumor and the results of treatment to consider the clinical analysis and treatment modality.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
All of the patients, who had been treated for olfactory neuroblastoma at Severance hospital during the past ten years, were analyzed retrospectively and each of their diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma was histologically confirmed.
RESULTS
Eleven patients aged 8 to 70 years were assessed, and 5 year disease-free survival rate were 60%. Sixty-four percent of those patients had received surgical treatment. Craniofacial resection was used mainly as an initial surgical treatment and followed by postoperative radiotherapy in 57% of the patients. If only cervical lymph node metastasis had developed at the initial diagnosis, elective neck treatment including bilateral neck dissection was performed. Chemotherapy was used either as postoperative adjuvant therapy, initial therapy with radiotherapy or salvage therapy, but not as an initial single treatment modality. Forty-five percent of the patients had recurrence and metastasis developed after the initial treatment. In the patients with cervical lymph node metastasis (n=1) and nodal recurrence (n=2), neck dissection was effective in nodal control.
CONCLUSION
Complete surgical resection and postoperative radiotherapy were the main treatment modalities of olfactory neuroblastoma. Especially, postoperative radiotherapy is an essential treatment to both early- and advanced-stage olfactory neuroblastoma. Craniofacial resection is a main surgical modality, but in early stage, limited external intervention including endoscopic mass excision can be considered. If the patient has cervical lymph node metastasis or nodal recurrence, radical neck dissection should be performed. Chemotherapy seems to be considered as an adjuvant therapy, not single treatment modality.