[Olfactory neuroblastoma. 3 case reports as a contribution to the clinical aspects, morphology and prognosis]

The leading symptom in all patients was a nasal obstruction. At first all three cases of olfactory neuroblastoma were mistaken for polyposis nasi. The tumour can be diagnosed solely by histologic examination. The light microscopic as well as the ultrastructural findings demonstrated the great morphological variability of this carcinoma. In nearly all cases a definite diagnosis is possible if besides the light microscopic picture also clinical data, ultrastructural and, if necessary, immunohistochemical findings are considered. At the time of diagnosis one tumour was Kadish-stage A and two were stage C. Lokal and metastatic tumour extension, recurrence of disease after treatment, patient age and radical tumour resection at initial presentation, are prognostic important criteria. The discriminant function by Homzie and Elkon permits the oncologist to predict the patient's outcome accurately.