Olfactory esthesioneuromas are rare tumors of the nasal fossae. They originate from the epithelium and nerves of the olfactory mucosa. From the histogenesis and morphology, two types can be distinguished: the olfactory esthesioneuroepithelioma and the olfactory esthesioneurocytoma. A third type, the olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma, is still insufficiently characterized. Errors in the microscopical diagnosis occur frequently, particularly in regard to the olfactory esthesioneuro-cytomas, which are often taken for lymphosarcomas or anaplastic carcinomas, and the olfactory esthesioneuroblastomas, which are sometimes taken for neuroblastomas. The microscopical classification of the olfactory esthesioneuromas is important, because a prognosis from the histological features is possible up to a point. The olfactory esthesioneuroepithelioma appears most liable to give rise to local recurrence and metastasis.
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Gerard-Marchant et al. (1965) studied this question.