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Skull Base 2010; 20(2): 061-067
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1236165
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© Thieme Medical Publishers

Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma: A 13-Year Experience at a Single Institution

Erin M. Lin1 , Anthony Sparano2 , Aaron Spalding3 , Avraham Eisbruch3 , Francis P. Worden4 , Jason Heth5 , Stephen E. Sullivan5 , B. Gregory Thompson5 , Lawrence J. Marentette1 , 5
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • 2Department of Otolaryngology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey and Coastal Ear Nose and Throat/Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Neptune, New Jersey
  • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine–Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • 5Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 September 2009 (online)

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ABSTRACT

We present our experience with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma at the University of Michigan over 13 years and review prior published data. We conducted a retrospective review of 19 patients who presented to a tertiary care academic center multidisciplinary skull base clinic with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma between 1995 and 2008. Overall survival was 22% at 5 years, and the estimated 5-year distant metastasis-free survival was 35%. At 2 years, local control was 83%, regional control was 50%, and distant control was 83%. Local control was best in those patients treated nonsurgically, as was median survival, though this was not statistically significant. Nodal disease in the neck, either at presentation or at recurrence, was noted in 26% of patients. Survival for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma remains poor. It is possible that up-front radiation or chemoradiation will lead to better local control rates, though surgery remains a mainstay of treatment. In all cases, the cervical nodes should be addressed with primary treatment.

KEYWORDS

SNUC - sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma - anterior skull base - subcranial

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Erin M LinM.D. 

Clinical Lecturer, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Email: elmk@med.umich.edu