Primary olfactory neuroblastoma originating from the inferior meatus of the nasal cavity

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the nasal cavity arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium. It usually presents as a polypoid mass high in the nasal vault including the cribriform plate, superior turbinate, and superior portion of nasal septum. An 89-year-old man visited our office with symptoms of occasional left nasal bleeding and obstruction. On the endoscopic examinations, polypoid mass with bleeding tendency was observed in the left inferior meatus. Biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma was confirmed by histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical staining. The tumor was resected via medial maxillectomy, and the final pathologic report established that it was primary olfactory neuroblastoma that occurred from the inferior meatus. In this report, a literature review was performed on the pathologic characteristics and prognosis of the tumor, and possible hypotheses that olfactory neuroblastoma has originated from the inferior meatus were discussed.