[Intracranial invasion of ethmoid cancer --a report of two cases (author's transl)].

Two cases of intracranial invasion of the ethmoid cancer were reported. With additional six cases reported in Japan, the precise clinical course and pathophysiological findings of the disease were reviewed, and the following several points became clear; 1) The incidence of the ethmoid cancer was rare. 2) These were divided into main groups according to the onset of intracranial signs, such as the frontal lobe symptoms and I-VII cranial nerve involvement. The first group showed the intracranial symptoms early, and the second group late. 3) The tumor invaded the cranial cavity along the perineural sheeth of each cranial nerve mainly. 4) It was very difficult to identify the paranasal sinus of origin after invading the cranial cavity. 5) The prognosis was extremely poor. All cases were died within one and half year.