Esthesioneuroblastoma: the UCLA experience 1970-1990.

A retrospective review was conducted of all esthesioneuroblastoma cases treated at UCLA Medical Center from 1970 through 1990. Patients were staged according to the staging systems of Kadish, et al., Biller, et al., and a new staging system proposed by the authors. Of 26 patients treated, 74% were alive at 5 years and 60% were alive at 10 years. Combined treatment with surgery and radiation is advocated since a recurrence-free status was achieved in 92% of the patients, compared with 14% for surgery alone and 40% for radiation alone. A craniofacial resection was performed in 7 patients, all of whom have remained disease free. Negative prognostic factors included: age over 50 years at presentation, female sex, tumor recurrence, and metastasis. The proposed new staging system predicted disease-free status better than the other staging systems.