Department of Otolaryngology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
Neurosurgery. 2009 Dec;65(6 Suppl):E112-3; discussion E113. doi: 10.1227/01.NEU.0000346268.69786.88.
Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare, malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium in the upper nasal cavity. Even more rare is ectopic esthesioneuroblastoma developing from the region outside the olfactory epithelium. In addition, tumors occurring in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) are uncommon, and the endoscopic transnasal approach for the resection of malignant tumors in this region is also uncommon.
We describe an esthesioneuroblastoma arising from the left maxillary sinus and PPF. The tumor was resected using the endoscopic transnasal approach, followed by treatment with radiotherapy. The patient showed no evidence of recurrence 12 months postoperatively.
The endoscopic transnasal approach could be successfully used for the complete removal of malignant tumors in the PPF.
The PPF is an anatomic area that is difficult to access. The endoscopic transnasal approach improves access and visualization; it also has the potential to reduce complications compared with the open approach. The endoscopic transnasal approach might become the treatment of choice for malignant tumors in the PPF.
嗅神经母细胞瘤是一种罕见的恶性肿瘤，起源于鼻腔上部的嗅神经上皮。更罕见的是嗅神经上皮以外部位发生的异位嗅神经母细胞瘤。此外，发生在翼腭窝（PPF）的肿瘤并不常见，而且经内镜鼻腔入路切除该区域的恶性肿瘤也不常见。
我们描述了一例起源于左侧上颌窦和 PPF 的嗅神经母细胞瘤。该肿瘤采用经内镜鼻腔入路切除，随后行放疗。术后 12 个月患者未见复发迹象。
经内镜鼻腔入路可成功用于完全切除 PPF 中的恶性肿瘤。
PPF 是一个难以触及的解剖区域。与开放入路相比，经内镜鼻腔入路改善了入路和可视化，也有可能减少并发症。经内镜鼻腔入路可能成为 PPF 中恶性肿瘤的治疗选择。
