Original Articles Esthesioneuroblastoma Treated with Non-Craniofacial Resection Surgery Followed by Combined Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: An Alternative Approach in Limited Resources

Background: Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor arising fromolfactoryepithelium.Surgical excision in the formof craniofacial surgical resection (CFR) has shown encouraging results. The purpose of the study is to analyze the outcome of this disease when managed by non-craniofacial resection (NCFR) surgery in limited resources. Methods: Between October 1998 and January 2004, eight patients with ENB were treated in the Department of Radiotherapy at KGMU, Lucknow. None of these eight patients underwent CFR surgery. All patients received six cycles of vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (VAC) based chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. Results:All the patients registered during this period had undergone operative procedures in the form of NCFR surgery except two. Complete response was present in five (62.5%) patients and three (37.5%) patients had partial response. Locoregional relapse-free survival at 3 years was 62.5 % and median survival time was 38 months. Disease-free survival and overall survival at 3 years was 72.9 and 71.4%, respectively, andmedian disease-free survival timewas 43months, whilemeanoverall survival timewas40.7monthsasmedianoverall survival timewasnot reached. Conclusion:Patients indevelopingcountriesoftenpresentwithadvancedstagesandbecauseo