A systematic review of sinonasal oncocytomas and oncocytic carcinomas: Diagnosis, management, and technical considerations

Background: Oncocytomas and oncocytic carcinomas are rare tumors of the sinonasal cavity with the propensity for local invasion. This report and systematic review details a case of a nasal oncocytoma involving the lacrimal sac and provides an update of the current literature.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed and Ovid databases. The data obtained from published articles with sinonasal oncocytoma/oncocytic carcinoma as the primary diagnosis included patient demographics, presentation, radiographic and histologic findings, management, and recurrence rates.

Results: Twenty cases were identified. The most common symptoms were epistaxis (n = 11) and nasal obstruction (n = 11). Involvement of the nasal cavity was most common (n = 17), followed by the paranasal sinuses (n = 13) and nasolacrimal apparatus (n = 4). Recurrence occurred in 55% of cases. Recurrence was associated with invasion or infiltration found on histology or the presence of both invasion/infiltration and mitotic figures/pleomorphism (p < 0.05), with no significant relationship between recurrence and age at diagnosis (p = 0.42), sex (p = 0.65), and location of tumor (p = 0.14). The authors present the case of a 73-year-old woman with a 5-month history of worsening epistaxis and biopsy-proven oncocytoma. Complete surgical resection of the tumor using combined endonasal endoscopic and anterior orbitotomy approach is described.

Conclusion: Oncocytomas and oncocytic carcinomas are rare tumors of the sinonasal cavity with a high rate of local recurrence and orbital involvement. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice and complete resection can be achieved with an endoscopic endonasal approach.