A Case of Undifferentiated Carcinoma Originating from the Inferior Turbinate of Nasal Cavity / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor arising from the schneiderian epithelium of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses. The presenting symptoms are diverse depending on the site involved and extent of tumor spread. The treatment of SNUC has evolved to improve overall survival rate and include disease-free control with complete surgical resection including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the prognosis still remains dismal. We present a patient with several months of history of intermittent nasal bleeding and stuffiness, which proved to be a rare malignant tumor of inferior turbinate origin, diagnosed as undifferentiated carcinoma of early stage in the disease process. The mass was excised en bloc with endoscopic surgical treatment from inferior turbinate without any additional combined treatment and there was no recurrence during the two-year follow-up period. We report herein, with a review of the literature, an undifferentiated carcinoma arising from the inferior turbinate, which was successfully treated by surgical resection only.