[Olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma. Review of seven cases]

Esthesioneuroblastomas are fairly rare malignant tumors: only 20 cases have been reported in Spanish records. It is locally aggressive and produces late recurrences. There is no such thing as a universally accepted treatment model. We describe our experience with 7 cases seen in our hospital from 1980 to 1996. A or B stages can be treated with irradiation, surgery or a combination of both. C stages with the most aggressive tendencies may require the combined use of preoperative irradiation, surgery and chemotherapy. We analyzed the forms of presentation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and survival. The 5-year survival rate was 75, 60 and 41% for stages A, B and C, respectively.