Olfactory Neuroblastoma

Abstract

The literature concerning olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare and often malignant tumour, is reviewed. The first case of the tumour was described in 1924 by Berger et al., and reports on some ninety cases are to be found in world literature. The present author emphasizes that more published reports on such cases, with an adequate period of observation, are required to throw light on many problems concerning this tumour. A case of metastasizing olfactory neuroblastoma in a 60-yearold patient is described. The tumour was fairly resistant to radiotherapy. Cytostatic treatment with triethylene thiophosphoramide (Thiotepa) gave a complete remission of five weeks' duration after the first course of therapy and a partial remission of two weeks' duration after the second course of therapy. The patient died six and a half months after the appearance of the first symptoms.