Case Report

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma

Corresponding Author

Stephen V. Liu MD

Division of Medical Oncology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, California. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Naveed Wagle MD,

Naveed Wagle MD

Department of Neurology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Gabriel Zada MD,

Gabriel Zada MD

Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Bonnie Sun MD,

Bonnie Sun MD

Department of Surgery, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

John Go MD,

John Go MD

Department of Radiology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Afshin Rashtian MD,

Afshin Rashtian MD

Department of Radiation Oncology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Stephen V. Liu MD,

Corresponding Author

Stephen V. Liu MD

Division of Medical Oncology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, California. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Naveed Wagle MD,

Naveed Wagle MD

Department of Neurology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Gabriel Zada MD,

Gabriel Zada MD

Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Bonnie Sun MD,

Bonnie Sun MD

Department of Surgery, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

John Go MD,

John Go MD

Department of Radiology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

Afshin Rashtian MD,

Afshin Rashtian MD

Department of Radiation Oncology, Keck University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 08 March 2013

https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.23225

Citations: 10

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Abstract

Background

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is an uncommon neoplasm characterized by local extension and an aggressive course. Treatment often includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, although the optimal strategy remains unclear. Here, we present the first reported case of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from SNUC.

Methods and Results

A 28-year-old man with rapidly progressive headaches, congestion, and exophthalmos was found to have a nasal mass. Biopsy revealed sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. He had a transient response to chemotherapy followed by a sustained response to concurrent chemoradiation. At the completion of radiation, he developed subtle neurologic findings and MRI revealed diffuse, bulky leptomeningeal spread. He was able to receive only a single fraction of external beam radiation to his spinal axis before his disease rapidly progressed, leading to respiratory failure and death.

Conclusions

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma can be associated with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, which can lead to a fulminant clinical course. Head Neck, 35: E343–E345, 2013

REFERENCES

1Musy PY, Reibel JF, Levine PA. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: the search for a better outcome. Laryngoscope 2002; 112: 1450–1455.
10.1097/00005537-200208000-00023
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
2Rosenthal DI, Barker JL, El-Naggar AK, et al. Sinonasal malignancies with neuroendocrine differentiation: patterns of failure according to histologic subtype. Cancer 2004; 101: 2567–2573.
10.1002/cncr.20693
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
3Chen AM, Daly ME, El-Sayed I, et al. Patterns of failure after combined-modality approaches incorporating radiotherapy for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2008; 70: 338–343.
10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.06.057
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
4Kim BS, Vongtama R, Juillard G. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: case series and literature review. Am J Otolaryngol 2004; 25: 162–166.
10.1016/j.amjoto.2003.12.002
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5Jeng YM, Sung MT, Fang CL, et al. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma and nasopharyngeal-type undifferentiated carcinoma: two clinically, biologically, and histopathologically distinct entities. Am J Surg Pathol 2002; 26: 371–376.
10.1097/00000478-200203000-00012
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6Lin EM, Sparano A, Spalding A, et al. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a 13-year experience at a single institution. Skull Base 2010; 20: 61–67.
10.1055/s-0029-1236165
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7Ghosh S, Weiss M, Streeter O, Sinha U, Commins D, Chen TC. Drop metastasis from sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. Spine 2001; 26: 1486–1491.
10.1097/00007632-200107010-00022
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
8Frierson HFJr, Mills SE, Fechner RE, Taxy JB, Levine PA. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. An aggressive neoplasm derived from schneiderian epithelium and distinct from olfactory neuroblastoma. Am J Surg Pathol 1986; 10: 771–779.
10.1097/00000478-198611000-00004
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
9Deutsch BD, Levine PA, Stewart FM, Frierson HFJr, Cantrell RW. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a ray of hope. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993; 108: 697–700.
10.1177/019459989310800611
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
10Rischin D, Porceddu S, Peters L, Martin J, Corry J, Weih L. Promising results with chemoradiation in patients with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. Head Neck 2004; 26: 435–441.
10.1002/hed.10396
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
11Al-Mamgani A, van Rooij P, Mehilal R, Tans L, Levendag PC. Combined-modality treatment improved outcome in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: single-institutional experience of 21 patients and review of the literature. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2012 Apr 3 [Epub ahead of print].
Google Scholar
12Tanzler ED, Morris CG, Orlando CA, Werning JW, Mendenhall WM. Management of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. Head Neck 2008; 30: 595–599.
10.1002/hed.20748
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
13Kaplan JG, DeSouza TG, Farkash A, et al. Leptomeningeal metastases: comparison of clinical features and laboratory data of solid tumors, lymphomas and leukemias. J Neurooncol 1990; 9: 225–229.
10.1007/BF02341153
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume35, Issue11

November 2013

Pages E343-E345

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Methods and Results

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Methods and Results

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information