Ectopic Olfactory Neuroblastoma Arising in the Nasopharynx

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon malignant tumor typically located in the upper nasal cavity. Olfactory neuroblastoma originating in the nasopharynx is extremely rare and tends to be misdiagnosed. The authors describe a rare case of ONB arising ectopically in the nasopharynx. The patient was a 65-year-old woman with recurrent epistaxis and a feeling of fullness in the right ear. After evaluation, endoscopic surgery was performed. The pathological result proved to be ONB. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumor was completely resected. The patient proceeded to have 66 Gy of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy and was followed for 36 months without tumor recurrence. Olfactory neuroblastoma originating from the nasopharynx is more rare condition compared with ONB located in other areas in the literature. The symptoms of ONB ectopic to the nasopharynx are similar to those of other nasopharyngeal tumors, which were likely to be misdiagnosed. The treatment principle is the same as that of nonectopic ONB, which is surgery combined with radiotherapy. Surgery can be performed using an endoscopic transnasal approach.