Large Cell Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Maxilla: An extremely Rare Tumor.

Neuroendocrine carcinomas are epithelial neoplasm with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation. Mostly they are found in gastrointestinal and respiratory system. In the nasal and paranasal sinus regions, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common tumor, followed by adenocarcinoma, malignant lymphoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, and olfactory neuroblastoma. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of head and neck region is extremely rare. Until now, very few cases of neuroendocrine tumors of paranasal sinuses have been documented. Compared to other organ systems, the neuroendocrine carcinoma involving sinuses are much more aggressive and with poor prognosis. The rarity of this carcinoma has restricted the understanding of its etiology and clinical outcome. We herein reporting a case of large cell poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of maxilla with orbital extension with the purpose of analysis of the available information of this rare malignancy.

Odontogenic myxoma of the maxillary sinus in a Nigerian child - report of a case

A case of grossly disfiguring swelling of the right maxilla in a Nigerian girl with delayed presentation due to socio-economic factors is presented. A 15 year old girl presented with a right facial upper jaw swelling of six years duration. It was painless and progressive, with expansion into the right maxilla, zygoma and filling the maxillary antrum with an intra-oral extension and nasal obstruction. The CT scan revealed an expansive radiolucent mass of the right maxilla and the lesion was surgically excised completely via a right maxillectomy. The histolopathological features of the excised mass are consistent with fibrous dysplasia of the right maxilla which has undergone myxomatous degeneration. This case highlights the clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of this rare locally aggressive tumour that underwent myxomatous degeneration as a result of late presentation due to socio-ecnomic factors. More concerted efforts should be made to make the national health insurance scheme fully operational. This will make presentations at the hospitals not to be delayed thereby avoiding complications

Carcinoma de seio maxilar: análise de dez casos / Maxillary sinus carcinoma: an analysis of ten cases

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o papel, principalmente da tomografia computadorizada, no estadiamento dos carcinomas dos seios maxilares. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dez casos de carcinoma diagnosticados e tratados pelos Departamentos de Diagnóstico por Imagem e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital Heliópolis, São Paulo, SP, entre 1988 e 2002. RESULTADOS: Nove pacientes tiveram extensão tumoral para a bochecha, oito para o espaço mastigador, sete para o assoalho da boca e palato duro, cinco para a fossa pterigóide, cinco para a órbita, três para o etmóide e um para a base do crânio. Três pacientes foram classificados como T3 e sete, como T4. Dois tinham metástases linfonodais no momento da apresentação inicial, os quais pertenciam ao estágio T4. Todos os casos foram confirmados com exame histopatológico. CONCLUSÃO: A análise precisa da extensão local e disseminação tumoral fornecida pela tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética desempenha papel importante no planejamento cirúrgico, influenciando, também, na conduta terapêutica e prognóstico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role, especially of computed tomography, in the staging of maxillary sinus carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cases of carcinoma treated in Hospital Heliópolis Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Head and Neck Surgery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in the period between 1988 and 2002, were evaluated. RESULTS: Nine patients presented with tumor extension to the cheek, eight to the masticator space, seven to the mouth floor and hard palate, five to the pterygoid fossa, five to the orbit, three to the ethmoid bone, and one to the skull base. Three of the patients were staged T3, and seven T4. Two patients had lymph nodes metastases at their initial presentation, and were staged T4. All of the cases were histopathologically confirmed. CONCLUSION: The accurate analysis of the tumor local extent and dissemination by means of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging plays a relevant role in the surgical planning, besides influencing the therapeutic conduct and prognosis.