Abstract
Background
Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a relatively rare tumor. It commonly affects subjects exposed to wood or leather dust.
Methods
The authors present the clinicopathologic 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 occupational exposure to wood or leather dust was found. Common presenting symptoms were epistaxis, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. Histologically, tumors were divided into four groups: well-differentiated (G1) ITACs = 3 cases; moderately differentiated (G2) ITACs = 8 cases; poorly differentiated (G3) ITACs = 2 cases; mucinous (M) ITACs = 5 cases. Immunocytochemically, 16/17 cases were positive for carcinoembryonal antigen, 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 adenocarcinomas is proposed.
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