Microscopical Diagnosis of Olfactory Esthesioneuromas: General Review and Report of Five Cases

Abstract

Olfactory esthesioneuromas are rare tumors of the nasal fossae. They originate from the epithelium and nerves of the olfactory mucosa. From the histogenesis and morphology, two types can be distinguished: the olfactory esthesioneuroepithelioma and the olfactory esthesioneurocytoma. A third type, the olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma, is still insufficiently characterized. Errors in the microscopical diagnosis occur frequently, particularly in regard to the olfactory esthesioneuro-cytomas, which are often taken for lymphosarcomas or anaplastic carcinomas, and the olfactory esthesioneuroblastomas, which are sometimes taken for neuroblastomas. The microscopical classification of the olfactory esthesioneuromas is important, because a prognosis from the histological features is possible up to a point. The olfactory esthesioneuroepithelioma appears most liable to give rise to local recurrence and metastasis.