Advances in Oto-rhino-laryngology

The inclusion of systemic therapy in the multimodal approach of locally advanced sinonasal cancers, at least in some selected histologies, may improve locoregional control and reduce the frequency of distant metastasis, allowing longer survival. Response to induction chemotherapy is a strong prognostic factor for a patient's outcome and it may improve disease control by surgery and radiation. Concurrent chemoradiation aims at increasing locoregional control in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck; this is particularly important in sinonasal cancers, with a risk of local relapse of about 30%...

Particle therapy is a comparatively new radiotherapy treatment form allowing the application of extremely conformal treatment plans. In head and neck malignancies, especially in the paranasal sinus and anterior skull base, this technology is very valuable in order to maintain normal tissue tolerance of critical structures while still applying high doses to the tumour. The following paper will further explore the rationale of particle therapy and available clinical experience of the most commonly treated malignancies arising in these anatomical sites...

Anterior skull base tumors represent a challenge for radiation therapy (RT) planning given the close proximity of the target lesion to numerous critical structures in this complex anatomic location. Despite this challenge, surgery followed by postoperative RT is a common treatment paradigm for malignant sinonasal tumors that has been associated with improved outcomes compared to single-modality treatment. Therefore, technological advancements allowing for increasingly conformal target coverage and sparing of organs at risk are important to accomplish the goal of delivering RT with the highest therapeutic ratio possible...

Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare malignancy characterized by an insidious growth pattern and a tendency for perineural spread along major and minor nerves, resulting in invasion of the skull base and intracranial extension. Therefore, many patients present with advanced disease and involvement of critical structures, making treatment difficult and potentially associated with high morbidity. Surgery represents the mainstay of treatment of the primary tumor. Complete resection of the tumor with negative margins, whenever feasible, is associated with better survival outcomes...

Sinonasal malignant mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare, aggressive, and capricious tumour accounting for 4% of sinonasal malignancies. Recent studies suggest an increasing frequency. There are few large published series, but all authors report poor outcomes irrespective of treatment of approximately 25% 5-year survival. As a consequence, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) have restaged all SNMMs as T3 or greater, irrespective of extent. Surgery remains the principle treatment modality. Survival and recurrence data analysis from a single-centre prospective cohort of 125 cases (all treated surgically with or without radiotherapy) showed 5-year overall survival was 28% and disease-free survival was 23...

Sinonasal malignancies are uncommon, representing 1% of all neoplasms. A wide spectrum of malignant neoplasms arise from the sinonasal and skull base regions; the majority of these tumors are poorly or undifferentiated tumors manifesting overlapping features that result in diagnostic challenges. Sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) are types of sinonasal neuroendocrine tumor, together with olfactory neuroblastoma. They share overlapping clinical, radiological, and histopathological features, albeit with variability in behavior and prognosis between each other...

The anterior skull base can be divided into three segments: a midline and two symmetrically placed segments located laterally. The midline segment is the roof of the nasal cavity and serves as a watershed between the sinonasal tract and the intracranial space, whereas the lateral segments separate the intracranial compartment from the orbital content. Several peculiar anatomical areas make up the midline segment (posterior frontal plate, cribriform plate, ethmoidal roof, planum sphenoidale, and tuberculum sellae), while the lateral segments are more regular, formed by flat laminae (orbital plates of the frontal bones and lesser wings of the sphenoid)...

Nowadays, surgeons have a wide armamentarium of surgical approaches available to safely treat sinonasal malignancies, which includes open approaches, with the traditional craniofacial resection (CFR), and endoscopic transnasal techniques. The correct choice depends on the features of the pathology. It is well known that endoscopic approaches have a lower morbidity compared with traditional open techniques, due to a shorter hospitalization, absence of facial incisions, and avoidance of brain retraction. Moreover, endoscopic surgery presents clear technical advantages...

Anterior skull base (ASB) tumors can be classified into three groups according to their site of origin: (1) sinonasal neoplasms involving or extending through the anterior cranial base; (2) neoplasms which arise from the bony framework of the base itself; (3) neoplasms originating from adjacent intracranial structures. With few exceptions, most of these tumors have a non-specific appearance on CT and MRI, which limits the role of imaging in terms of characterization. However, treatment planning (transnasal endoscopic surgery in particular) mostly depends upon the tumor map, exploiting the potential of modern cross-sectional imaging...

The anterior skull base is a complex anatomic site which may be involved by a large number of biologically heterogenous neoplasms. They arise from the epithelium, both surface mucosa and glands, as well as soft tissues, bone, and cartilage. Many benign and malignant tumours in the anterior skull base are similar to their counterparts in other anatomic sites. Interestingly, unique tumours including teratocarcinosarcoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, and angiofibroma can also be found. Recognition of overlapping morphologic features of entities encountered in this anatomic site and the corresponding differential diagnosis is critical...

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare tumor. Nasal endoscopy typically identifies a soft mass arising from the olfactory cleft. Computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are mandatory for staging (in association with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) in high-grade and/or high-stage tumors. Biopsy must be representative to confirm a diagnosis and for grading purposes. Two complementary classifications are described: one (Kadish) based on clinical-radiological analysis, and the other (Hyams) on histological criteria...

This review of sinonasal adenocarcinoma, both intestinal and non-intestinal type, aims at providing a comprehensive overview of etiological factors, diagnostic workup, histological subtypes, advances in molecular characterization and the genetic basis, current optimal treatment strategies, resulting oncological outcome, and prognostic factors modifying the final treatment results. The current treatment of choice remains surgical resection with a curative intent, using the least invasive approach that allows for removal of the entire tumor with negative margins, supplemented with postoperative high-quality intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the majority of patients...

In the coming years, further developments can be expected in the field of diagnosis and management of tumors involving the anterior skull base, and especially malignant tumors of the sinonasal tract, which account for the majority of lesions affecting this anatomic area. Advances in genomics and radiomics will undoubtedly lead to better profiling of tumor biology, with consequent refinement of treatment according to the principles of precision medicine. Similarly, the continuous evolution of morphologic and metabolic imaging will improve the accuracy of pretreatment staging and posttreatment surveillance...

Malignancies of the anterior skull base are rare and recur in 40-80% of treated cases, varying with substantial variance according to histology, stage at primary diagnosis, and other factors. Most recurrences manifest within 2-5 years after primary treatment, but some histologies can relapse even decades after the first presentation. Management of recurrent anterior skull base tumors is challenging and a wide variety of treatment options are available. Similar to the primary setting, surgery is the mainstay of treatment...

Posttreatment imaging surveillance in patients treated for anterior skull base tumors is a multifaceted issue which - as a first step - requires tailoring of the selection of imaging technique and acquisition protocol to the clinical scenario. As a general rule, acute symptoms suggesting the onset of a complication of treatment require prompt diagnosis through an easily accessible technique, such as CT; on the other hand, monitoring recurrences in asymptomatic patients is best achieved with MRI, exploiting the inherently higher contrast resolution...

Sinonasal tumours are rare, and among these there exist a small number of histologic subtypes that are infrequently encountered and rarely mentioned in the literature. These have been presented as either case reports or small case series, and their very low incidence makes prospective studies practically impossible. This review analyses the available literature, including our own experience and endeavours to outline management strategies, which involve a high index of suspicion and counselling of patients. In most instances, these tumours require aggressive multimodal treatment to improve survival outcomes...

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms involving the anterior skull base, resulting from local invasion from an adjacent anatomical region. The primary sites of origin are most frequently the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and less often the skin and orbit. Treatment strategies for these tumors have evolved, although management remains challenging due to the proximity to critical structures and their location at the intracranial-extracranial interface. The rarity of these tumors, and limited numbers at any one institution, has meant that most published series have grouped together different histologies in reporting outcomes...

Anterior skull base meningiomas are a diverse group of tumors that involve different locations. The role of the expanded endoscopic transnasal approach in the management of anterior cranial fossa meningiomas has significantly changed over the past 2 decades. Patient selection is paramount to benefit from the advantages of endoscopic transnasal surgery such as direct access to ventral skull base lesions avoiding brain and brainstem retraction, early de-vascularization, removal of bone infiltrated by tumor, near-field magnification, better surgical field illumination, and minimal manipulation of neurovascular structures...

Benign tumors of the anterior cranial base may originate from intracranial, cranial, or extracranial sites. Intracranial tumors such as meningiomas may secondarily involve the cranial base and extend into the sinuses or nasal cavity. Bony tumors arising from the cranium include benign fibro-osseous lesions such as osteoma, fibrous dysplasia, and ossifying fibroma. The most common extracranial tumors that may extend to the skull base include angiofibroma and inverted papilloma. Symptoms are nonspecific and diagnosis is often delayed...

Aging in vestibular structures with loss of hair cells in the inner ear starts early in life, but vestibular function usually remains relatively unimpaired up to advanced ages. However, dizziness and imbalance are common in the elderly and have substantial impact on the quality of life. Dizziness interferes with the everyday activities of 30% of persons over age 70. As causes can be multiple, including vestibular and non-vestibular components, it is crucial to detect the factors leading to dizziness and imbalance to maintain mobility and avoid secondary complications like falls and anxiety...