THE OLFACTIVE ESTHESIONEUROMAS (ESTHESION EUROBLASTOMAS) - A PATHOLOGICAL-STUDY ABOUT 7 CASES

With an histological, immunohistochemical study of 7 cases of olfactiv e esthesioneuromas (4 of them had an ultrastructural study), our purpo se was to revise the problem of the too often ambiguous terminology an d of the different histological lower classes classifications of these tumors. Our own results and the literature demonstrate that they are polymorphic. In standard histology, they are often right diagnosed but an immunohistochemical study can be useful and an ultrastructural stu dy absolutely necessary for a reliable diagnosis. For an easier nomenc lature, we advise to use only one terminology for these tumors = olfac tive esthesioneuroma. But, because of their important polymorphism, we keep to an histological lower classes classification according to the ir degree of differenciation in light microscopy: well differentiated tumors (old esthesioneuroepitheliomas) moderately differentiated tumor s (old esthesioneurocytomas) poorly differentiated tumors (old esthesi oneuroblastomas and so on described as neuro-endocrine carcinomas by S ilva and al).