Olfactory neuroblastoma: Endoscopic- assisted cranial resection

Olfactory neuroblastoma (OAN) is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm of the nasal cavity. Here we report a case of OAN in a 30 years old man presenting with headache, unilateral progressive nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Nasal examination revealed a fleshy pink mass in the left nasal cavity. Computed tomographic scan showed a mass involving the nasal cavity, ethmoid sinuses and anterior cranial fossa. A diagnosis of OAN was established by histopathology and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The nasal mass was excised via a lateral rhinotomy approach and the cranial extension of the tumor was resected completely from the cribriform plate, fovea ethmoidalis and dura by using endoscopes of different angles. An endoscopic assisted resection of the base of skull from the nasal cavity without a formal craniofacial resection was performed safely with oncologic safety. In this article, the potential advantages of endoscopic techniques along with past, present and future hope for the search for a better outcome of OAN will be discussed.