This is a response to a question about esthesioneuroblastoma. Esthesioneuroblastoma is a very rare tumor, which occurs in the nasal cavity. Between 1978 and 1990 only 84 esthesioneuroblastomas were reported in the United States. The tumors have a bimodal age distribution occurring most commonly in teenagers and the sixth decade of life. These tumors can spread to the lymph nodes and to other areas of the body.
Treatment depends on tumor stage.
Tumors which have extended beyond the nasal cavity have a high risk of distant spread and chemotherapy is often recommended in addition to surgery and radiotherapy. Prognosis also depends on the tumor stage. Early tumors are often well controlled with either surgery or radiotherapy. However, because of the rarity of these tumors it is difficult to determine the true prognosis. The information provided through OncoLink should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease.