Extracranial head and neck neurogenic tumors: report of 47 cases.

UNLABELLED: Extracranial head and neck neurogenic tumors are rare and usually revealed by histological examination. The aim of this study was to review the clinical, radiological and therapeutic particularities of these tumors. METHODS: This retrospective study concerns 47 patients with neurogenic tumors of the head and neck, operated on between 1989 and 2011 (22 years period). All patients had complete physical examination and ultrasonography was performed when a cervical extension was found. CT scan and MRI were performed in 16 cases. Minimum follow up was 4 years. RESULTS:   A sinusonasal tumor was found in 9 cases and a cervical mass was seen in 28 cases. Parapharyngeal extension was observed in two cases. Two patients had tympano-jugular glomic tumors and 8 of them had a cervical soft tissue tumor. Complete surgical resection was performed in 46 patients. Histological examination revealed a benign tumor in 91% of cases (n=43), 24 of them were schwannomas. Malignant tumors were seen in 4 cases: esthesioneuroblastoma (3 cases) and malignant schwannoma (1 case). These patients received post operative radiotherapy. After surgery, two patients had Claude Bernard Horner syndrome and one had a definitive facial nerve palsy. CONCLUSION: Extracranial head and neck neurogenic tumors may have several aspects depending on their localisation and their histological type. Surgery, when performed, should be complete with minimum complications.

Chondrosarcoma of sinonasal cavity: a case report and brief literature review.

BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcomas are slow-growing malignant tumors that usually arise from cartilaginous structures. It may occur in the head and neck region with a predilection for the maxillofacial skeleton, where it has been reported to occur particularly in the mandible and maxilla. Chondrosarcoma of the sinonasal tract is very rare. AIM: Report a new case CASE: We present the case of a 43-year-old man presenting with an incidental finding of a chondrosarcoma of the maxillary and ethmoid sinus with nasal extension. The tumor was completely resected using a transnasal endoscopic approach. Treatment has followed by a radiation therapy and the patient was considered free of disease at her 5 years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the mainstay treatment of chondrosarcomas. In selected patients, complete resection can be achieved using transnasal endoscopic approach.