Skip to main content
Log in

Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma: a report of two cases

  • Case Report
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare, malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory epithelium. It has an aggressive biological behavior that is characterized by local recurrence, atypical distant metastasis, and poor long-term prognosis. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis in olfactory neuroblastoma is variable, and treatment modalities are controversial. Moreover, few reports have been published concerning retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma. We present two cases of olfactory neuroblastoma with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. In addition, we provided a review of the current literature regarding olfactory neuroblastoma and retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bradley PJ, Jones NS, Robertson L (2003) Diagnosis and management of esthesioneuroblastoma. Curr Poin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 11:112–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jesper GE, Lars B, Annelise SK, Olfred H, Karsten EJ (2000) Esthesioneuroblastoma what is the optimal treatment?. Acta Oncol 39(2):231–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Diaz EM, Johnigan RH, Pero C, El-Naggar AK, Roberts DB, Barker JL et al(2005) Olfactory neuroblastoma: the 22-year experience at one comprehensive cancer center. Head Neck 2:138–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Pfreundner L, Pahnke J, Willner J (2000) Systematics in lymphatic tumor spread of carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract—a clinical study based on embryologic data. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 257:561–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ferlito A, Shaha AR, Rinaldo A (2002) Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from cancer of the head and neck. Acta Otolaryngol 122:556–560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hasegawa Y, Matsuura H (1994) Retropharyngeal node dissection in cancer of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Head Neck 16:173–180

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Davis WL, Harnsberger HR, Smoker WRK, Watanabe AS (1990) Retropharyngeal space: evaluation of normal anatomy and diseases with CT and MR imaging. Radiology 174:59–64

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gross ND, Ellingson TW, Wax MK, Cohen JI, Anderson PE (2004) Impact of retrophayngeal lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130:169–173

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. King AD, Ahuja AT, Leung S-f, et al (2000) Neck node metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: MR imaging of patterns of disease. Head Neck 22:275–281

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Constantinidis J, Steinhart H, Koch M, Buchfelder M, Schaenzer A, Weidenbecher M, et al(2004) Olfactory neuroblastoma: The university of Erlangen-Nuremberg experience 1975–2000. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surf 130:567–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Rinaldo A, Ferlito A, Shaha AR, Wei WI, Lund VJ (2002) Esthesioneuroblastoma and cervical lymph node metastases: clinical and therapeutic implication. Acta Otolaryngol 122:215–221

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Davis RE, Weissler MC (1992) Esthesioneuroblastoma and neck metastasis. Head Neck 14:477–482

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Olsen KD, DeSanto LW (1983) Olfactory neuroblastoma, biologic and clinical behavior. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 109:797–802

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Levine PA, Gallagher R, Cantrell RW (1999) Esthesioneuroblastoma: reflections of a 21 year experience. Laryngoscope 109:1539–1543

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ballantyne AJ (1964) Significance of retropharyngeal nodes in cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg 108:5–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joo-Heon Yoon.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, H.J., Kim, J. & Yoon, JH. Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma: a report of two cases. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263, 778–782 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0048-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0048-4

Keywords

Navigation