Ophthalmic Manifestations of Esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma, a tumor that arises from the olfactory sensory epithelium, often manifests with ocular and orbital signs and symptoms. A review of 38 cases of esthesioneuroblastoma at the Mayo Clinic revealed that ophthalmic signs or symptoms occurred in 28. Twenty patients had ophthalmic signs or symptoms at the time of presentation, and five of these had ocular symptoms as the primary complaint. Five patients presented to an ophthalmologist, but a nasal or paranasal sinus tumor was not suspected. Periorbital pain and excessive tearing were the most commonly reported symptoms. The most common ophthalmic sign was eyelid edema followed by proptosis, globe injection, and ptosis. Recognition of the signs and symptoms of neoplasms of the nose and paranasal sinuses and consideration of esthesioneuroblastoma in the differential diagnosis by clinicians and pathologists allow for prompt management of this tumor.