Pathologic dural invasion is associated with regional recurrence in olfactory neuroblastoma: A multi-institutional study.

Objective: Neck metastases are a poor prognostic factor in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). Pathologic dural invasion (pathDI) may increase the risk of neck metastases due to invasion of dural lymphatics. We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of pathDI in predicting rates of neck metastases and recurrence using a large, multicenter database of ONB patients.

Data sources: Retrospective review of a prospective, multicenter database of electronic health records of all patients who presented with ONB between 2005 and 2021 at nine tertiary academic care centers within North America.

Review methods: Clinicopathologic features including modified Kadish staging systems, margin status, treatment modalities, Hyams grading, follow-up time, and survival.

Results: Of 258 ONB patients, 189 patients met the inclusion criteria. The 10-year neck recurrence-free survival (neck-RFS) rates were 85.7% (75.6‒97.3) and 61.8% (47.9‒79.8) for patients without and with pathDI, respectively (p = 0.018). Time-to-event multivariable regression analysis found pathDI to have an odds ratios of 9.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-80.4, p = 0.04) for neck-RFS and 9.5 for RFS at any site (95% CI 1.1-83.3, p = 0.04).

Conclusion: In multivariable analysis, the presence of pathDI appears to be the strongest predictor of neck recurrence and recurrence at any site. Future studies exploring the benefit of elective neck dissection or radiation for patients with pathDI may impact disease management.