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1957 Esthesioneuroblastoma

definition

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the sinonasal cavity, arising from the basal layers of olfactory neuroepithelial cells in the superior nasal vault, which usually occurs in the 5th to 6th decades of life and is characterized clinically by non-specific symptoms such as progressive ipsilateral nasal block, sinusitis, facial pain, intermittent headaches, hyposmia/dysosmia, rhinorrhea and epistaxis as well as proptosis, diplopia and excessive lacrimation due to orbital extension. With early treatment and in the absence of distant metastases, ENB appears to have a good prognosis (compared to other superior nasal malignancies), despite a high rate of cervical metastases.