INTESTINAL-TYPE ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE SINONASAL TRACT - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 18 CASES

Background: Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) of the nose and para nasal sinuses is a relatively rare tumor. It commonly affects subjects exposed to wood or leather dust. Methods: The authors present the cli nicopathologic findings of 18 cases of sinonasal ITACs and review the proposed histologic classifications. Results: All patients, except one , were males; mean age was 60 years (range, 41-79); in 9 cases an occu pational exposure to wood or leather dust was found. Common presenting symptoms were epistaxis, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. Histologic ally, tumors were divided into four groups: well-differentiated (G1) I TACs = 3 cages; moderately differentiated (G2) ITACs = 8 cases; poorly differentiated (G3) ITACs = 2 cases; mucinous (M) ITACs = 5 cases. Im munocytochemically, 16/17 cases were positive for carcinoembryonal ant igen, 1/17 for somatostatin, and 0/16 cases for gastrin. Conclusions: Sinonasal ITACs are aggressive tumors, often diagnosed in a relatively advanced stage. Owing the close similarity of the microscopic aspects , a histologic classification of ITACs analogous to that of colonic ad enocarcinomas is proposed.