Esthesioneuroblastoma

Treatment

Mayo Clinic's experienced specialists, with training and expertise in esthesioneuroblastoma, work together as a team to create a customized treatment plan, giving you access to the latest treatment options. Treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma usually involves surgery, followed by radiation and sometimes chemotherapy.

Surgery

Mayo Clinic's head and neck surgeons and neurosurgeons have significant experience in performing esthesioneuroblastoma surgeries, which are often challenging procedures. Surgical techniques vary, depending on the tumor's location, and may also involve removing the surrounding lymph nodes in the neck.

For select small tumors, Mayo Clinic surgeons offer minimally invasive surgery called the transnasal endoscopic approach. During surgery, a small flexible instrument (endoscope) is passed through the nose to remove the cancer.

Radiation therapy

At Mayo Clinic, radiation oncology experts provide state-of-the-art treatment options, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT), brachytherapy and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. These forms of radiation allow your radiation oncologist to minimize the high-dose radiation applied to nearby healthy tissue as well as ensure the safety and accuracy of treatment. External beam radiation also is aimed at localized regions near the tumor site to kill cancerous lymph node tissue.

Chemotherapy

Courses of chemotherapy drugs given through a vein (intravenously) or by mouth (orally) can destroy cancerous cells. Chemotherapy may be administered after surgery and combined with radiation therapy.