[Acinic cell carcinoma of the nasal septum]

Abstract

Introduction: Nasal cavity acinic carcinoma are exceptional and often of turbinal origin. We report a case of acinic carcinoma of septal origin and discuss this histological type rare in this site.

Observation: A 47-year-old women, with no pathologic history, consulted for right nasal obstruction and hyposmia having evolved for a year. The clinical examination revealed a right nasal cavity lesion adhesive to the septum. Tomodensitometry showed a right nasal cavity and ethmoid opacity without bone destruction. The surgical treatment was endonasal tumor resection. The histological examination revealed a nasal fossa acinic carcinoma completely resected. A postoperative radiotherapy was initiated. The evolution was uneventful without recurrence after 4 years of follow-up.

Discussion: Acinic carcinoma is rarely located in the nasal cavity. Its septal origin is exceptional. It is usually located at the salivary gland level. Curative treatment is surgery associated or not to radiotherapy. The prognosis is related to tumor extension and quality of resection.