Esthesioneuroblastoma: a nasal catecholamine-producing tumor of neural crest origin

Summary An esthesioneuroblastoma in a 16-year-old male was studied ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically, using antiserum against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the catecholamine-synthesizing pathway. Tumor cells were fairly uniform in appearance, showing scantly cosinophilic cytoplasm and round to oval hyperchromatic nuclei, and were arranged in nests and cords of various sizes. Ultrastructurally, individual tumor cells had well-developed cell organelles including polyribosomes, microtubules, intermediate filaments, centrioles, Golgi apparatus and mitochondria. Secretory-like granules were occasionally found, predominantly in the cell processes. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells were shown to be immunoreactive for TH. This finding strongly suggested that the present tumor was capable of producing catecholamines and that it might be derived from certain sympathetic neuronal cell nests in the superior nasal cavity.