Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also identified as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare cancerous disease of the upper nasal passage and frontal skull base. It is a minor cell cancer developing from the nasal neuroepithelium that is distinctive from primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
Despite its infrequent nature, esthesioneuroblastoma is the most widespread tumor of the nasal cavity in infants and children, responsible for 30% of incidence. A different characteristic of organs exerts different growth microenvironments & potentially influences the behavior of metastatic neuroblastoma cells & the outlook of patients.
What Are The First Symptoms Of Olfactory Neuroblastoma?
When cancer starts specifically in the nerves that affect your sense of smell it is a sign of olfactory neuroblastoma which typically starts from the roof of the nasal cavity and immediately impacts the sensory organs.1
Several signs and symptoms can signify olfactory neuroblastoma:
Surface Pain Around The Eyes: Surface pain is generally triggered by irritation from a foreign object, disease, or trauma. Frequently, this sort of eye discomfort is simply treated with eye drops or rest. However, this could also be an underlying factor for serious illness and one of its kind is olfactory neuroblastoma.
Stuffiness Or Congestion: Congestion occurs when there is an abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fluid. Several individuals believe a stuffy nose is the consequence of too much mucus in the nasal passages. On the other hand, a clogged nose is instigated by inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. Nasal congestion has numerous reasons and can vary from mild irritation to a life-threatening condition.
Nasal Drainage In The Throat: Normally, you don’t observe the mucus from your nose since it combines with saliva, and you swallow it. However, in the postnasal drip, a person may feel mucus dripping down the back of their throat. In olfactory neuroblastoma, some parts of the nasal septum may need to be removed to do this. This symptom can persist for weeks to months.2,3
Decreased Sense Of Smell And Taste: A person’s sense of smell can be affected by numerous causes and olfactory neuroblastoma is one of the serious conditions of anosmia that affects the brain or nerves and when left untreated results in permanent loss of smell.
Other symptoms include face or tooth numbness, loose teeth, ear infection, enlarged lymph nodes, and a few others.4
How Do You Test For Olfactory Neuroblastoma?
You will connect with your physician for a physical exam and to examine your warning sign. Your health care provider may then request imaging checks, such as an MRI or a CT scan. To get more information, your provider may do a biopsy. This is performed by getting a tissue sample and examining it under a microscope to discover what type of tumor has developed. The finding is verified through the biopsy of cancer.
A diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma may be determined by histopathology and verified by immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of cervical lymph node metastasis in olfactory neuroblastoma is unpredictable, and only some statements have been available relating to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma.
Physical Exam: In patients with suspected neuroblastoma, performing a thorough examination with careful attention to vital signs is essential.
MRI Or CT Scan: MRI scans provide detailed images of soft tissues in the body. These scans are very helpful in looking at the brain and spinal cord.
Biopsy: A pathologist remove a sample of tissue and examines this tissue to see if neuroblastoma or other cancer cells are present.5,6
- Olfactory Neuroblastoma | Johns Hopkins Medicine https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/olfactory-neuroblastoma
- Olfactory Neuroblastoma Surgery, Symptoms and Treatment https://www.upmc.com/services/neurosurgery/brain/conditions/brain-tumors/olfactory-neuroblastoma
- Olfactory neuroblastoma – Genetic and Rare Diseases – NIH https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/2197/olfactory-neuroblastoma
- Olfactory Neuroblastoma | Symptoms and Treatments | Aurora Health care https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/neuroscience/brain-skull-base-care/brain-tumor/olfactory-neuroblastoma
- Olfactory Neuroblastoma – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester medical center https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=134&ContentID=88
- An Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Early-Stage Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Evaluation of 2 Cases with Minireview of Literature https://www.hindawi.com/journals/criot/2015/541026/
Also Read:
- What is Esthesioneuroblastoma or Olfactory Neuroblastoma: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery, Prognosis, Staging
- Can Olfactory Neuroblastoma Go Away On Its Own & What Are Its Natural Remedies?
- Is Olfactory Neuroblastoma Hereditary & Is It A Disability?
- What To Eat & Avoid When You Have Olfactory Neuroblastoma?
- Is Olfactory Neuroblastoma A Progressive Disease & Alternative Treatments For It?
- What Happens To Untreated Olfactory Neuroblastoma & When To Go To Doctor?
