Esthesioneuroblastoma – results of complex treatment of 10 patients

Aim. To evaluate the results of complex treatment of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma and to determine the factors influencing the disease outcome.

Material and methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of the treatment results of 10 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma who underwent surgery at the N.N. Burdenko Research Institute of Neurosurgery of the Russian Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2017 based on the following parameters: demographic data, localization and size of the tumor, clinical symptoms and their course in the postoperative period, features and extent of surgery, development of complications, recurrence or continued growth of the tumor, and the subsequent treatment.

Results. Radicality of surgical treatment was evaluated according to CT and MRI data in early and late postoperative periods: the tumor was totally resected in 2 cases, subtotally in 5 cases, partially in 2 cases, and extended biopsy was performed in 1 case. Radiation therapy was performed in 9 patients, chemotherapy — in 9 patients. The overall one- and three-year survival rate of the patients (n=10) who underwent complex treatment (surgery+radiation therapy+chemotherapy in any sequence) was 76.1 and 60.9%, respectively. One- and three-year progression-free survival in the same group of patients equaled 64.8 and 38.9%, respectively.

Conclusion. Esthesioneuroblastoma is an aggressive malignant tumor. World experience in the treatment of patients with this disease indicates the need for comprehensive management with an emphasis on obtaining the most radical resection possible.

Key words: esthesioneuroblastoma, skull base surgery, craniofacial neurosurgery, endonasal endoscopic surgery, surgical complications
Conflicts of interest. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding. There was no funding for this study