Esthesioneuroblastoma: a meta-analysis and review
Pooling every published series of this rare nasal cancer showed that about 45 percent of patients survive five years, that surgery followed by radiotherapy gives the best results, and that the Kadish stage and Hyams grade predict outcome.
Overview
Meta-analysis of 26 studies including 390 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma published between 1990 and 2000, examining survival by treatment modality, Kadish stage and Hyams grade.
Five-year survival was 45 percent overall; combined surgery and radiotherapy achieved about 65 percent, better than either alone, and low Hyams grade and lower Kadish stage were favourable. The review remains the reference for treatment planning in a tumour that will never have a randomised trial.
- Five-year survival 45 percent overall; about 65 percent with surgery plus radiotherapy.
- Kadish stage and Hyams grade were prognostic.
Craniofacial or endoscopic resection followed by radiotherapy is the standard for esthesioneuroblastoma, with chemotherapy reserved for high-grade or advanced disease.
- Pooled retrospective series with heterogeneous staging and treatment.
- Predates endoscopic skull base surgery and modern radiotherapy.