VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2011 ) > List of Articles
Ashutosh Chauhan, NC Chakarborty, Pramod Nath, Manomoy Ganguly
Citation Information : Chauhan A, Chakarborty N, Nath P, Ganguly M. Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of Nasal Cavity Presenting as Unilateral Blindness. Int J Head Neck Surg 2011; 2 (1):61-63.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10001-1050
Published Online: 01-08-2012
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2011; The Author(s).
Primary sinonasal small cell carcinomas are extremely rare lesions. We present a case of 29-year-old male patient, who initially presented with recurrent right sided nasal obstruction and occasional epistaxis, but came to medical attention when he developed progressive deterioration of vision in ipsilateral eye. Radiological examination showed a tumor with epicenter in right nasal cavity with extensive local infiltration. The histopathology picture and immunohistochemistry profile of the tumor showed it to be a primary small cell neuroendocrine tumor. Extensive imaging studies revealed no other site of primary. He was treated with induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Complete clinical response was seen and the patient has been disease free since last 20 months. The report discusses the diagnostic criteria which differentiates this extremely rare but aggressive tumor from a much more common and more indolent tumor, esthesioneuroblastoma.