Sinonasal Teratocarcinosarcoma: A Rare and Highly Aggressive Neoplasm

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcomas (SNTCSs) are malignant and highly aggressive neoplasms arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses with extension into surrounding structures and intracranial extension in few instances. They are commonly found in males (7-8 times more than in females). They pose difficulty in diagnosis due to their diverse histology. Ideal treatment modalities have not been devised yet due to the rare and highly aggressive nature of SNTCSs as shown in this case report. A 29-year-old Asian male was initially misdiagnosed on biopsy. Surgical debulking was performed initially which showed SNTCSs with radiological evidence of residual disease for which gross tumor clearance was done. He presented within a short span of a month, post re-resection with gross local recurrence. Urgent palliative radiotherapy was planned and started but unfortunately, he developed pulmonary and hepatic metastasis during radiation therapy and was commenced on palliative care only due to significant deterioration of performance status. Treatment of SNTCSs is often delayed due to their difficulty in diagnosis. Its highly aggressive nature prompts an urgent and aggressive treatment approach with adjuvant chemoradiation. Any type of adjuvant therapy is better than surgical resection only given its timely administration and close surveillance.