A primary adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity with light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunocytochemical features of an enteric-type carcinoma is presented. The carcinoma contained a variety of dense-core granules similar to those seen in enterochromaffin cells of different functional types. Some granules demonstrated an immunoreactivity with serotonin, cholecystokinin, gastrin, somatostatin and leu-enkephalin antibodies. It is suggested that the endocrine cells in the neoplasm belong to the nonneuroectodermal paraneurone system.
Cancer 54855460, 1984.
DENOCARCINOMAS OF THE NASAL CAVITY and
A paranasal sinuses are readily distinguished from salivary type carcinomas, i.e., those carcinomas arising from the seromucous duct system and whose classification coincides with that used for similar neoplasms in the major salivary glands and oral cavity.' Among the adenocarcinomas are lesions with variable degrees of similarity to intestinal adenocarcinomas, either in part, or in total comp~sition.*-~ This similarity extends beyond the light-microscopic appearance to ultrastructural and immunocytochemical characteristics. We describe an adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity with these features and in so doing report the third known case studied in this manner.3s5
Case Report
A 67-year-old man with a long history of springtime allergies complained of a 3-month history of persistent nasal obstruction and nasal bleeding. His physician, after examination, biopsied a left nasal cavity tumor which was diagnosed, after histopathologic examination, as an adenocarcinoma. The patient had no history of exposure to possible occupational carcinogens.
The patient was transferred to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute for treatment. Anterior rhinoscopy revealed a friable, completely obstructing lesion in the left nasal cavity. There was destruction of the middle turbinate, and the nasal septum was pushed to the right by the tumor. X-rays confirmed the localization of the lesion to the left nasal cavity with possible extension into the left ethmoid sinus.