A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges

A 38-year-old Chinese gentleman presented to a private healthcare facility with a chief complaint of unilateral epistaxis, persisting for 2 months. An endoscopic examination revealed a polyp-like structure in the left nasal cavity, which bled upon contact. The patient underwent endoscopic sinus s...

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Main Authors: Mariappen, Suraien, Lim, Walter Yung Chwen, Ng, Pui Foong, Maruthamuthu, Thevagi, Rozhan, 'Atikah
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Sciencedomain International 2025
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Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/13/123719_A%20case%20report%20on%20sinonasal.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/
https://journaljcti.com/index.php/JCTI/article/view/323
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author Mariappen, Suraien
Lim, Walter Yung Chwen
Ng, Pui Foong
Maruthamuthu, Thevagi
Rozhan, 'Atikah
author_facet Mariappen, Suraien
Lim, Walter Yung Chwen
Ng, Pui Foong
Maruthamuthu, Thevagi
Rozhan, 'Atikah
author_sort Mariappen, Suraien
building IIUM Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider International Islamic University Malaysia
content_source IIUM Repository (IREP)
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description A 38-year-old Chinese gentleman presented to a private healthcare facility with a chief complaint of unilateral epistaxis, persisting for 2 months. An endoscopic examination revealed a polyp-like structure in the left nasal cavity, which bled upon contact. The patient underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and biopsy. Initial histopathological examination rendered as well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Post operatively, despite persistent nasal symptoms, the patient defaulted on treatment. Two months later, he presented to the emergency department with painless, progressive left eye swelling, accompanied by left eye vision loss, reduced hearing, and tinnitus for 1 week. Examination revealed proptosis of the left eye, firm and non tender swelling over the left maxillary region, and a fleshy mass occupying the entire left nostril. Imaging studies showed extensive disease involving the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, left orbit with intracranial extension, and bony erosions. Histopathological examination from a biopsy confirmed Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC). The patient was staged as cT4bN0M0 and planned for chemotherapy but defaulted after 2 cycles due to intolerable side effects. He succumbed to locally advanced disease a month later. SNUC is a rare and highly aggressive malignant neoplasm originating from the epithelial lining of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Its aggressive nature often results in large and extensive tumors at the time of diagnosis, with a short duration of symptoms. While initial treatment involves surgical resection, complete tumor removal is often challenging due to complex anatomy. Aggressive multimodality treatment is recommended, although SNUC carries a high rate of local recurrence and increased morbidity and mortality.
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spelling my.iium.irep-1237192025-10-15T04:10:05Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/ A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges Mariappen, Suraien Lim, Walter Yung Chwen Ng, Pui Foong Maruthamuthu, Thevagi Rozhan, 'Atikah RF Otorhinolaryngology A 38-year-old Chinese gentleman presented to a private healthcare facility with a chief complaint of unilateral epistaxis, persisting for 2 months. An endoscopic examination revealed a polyp-like structure in the left nasal cavity, which bled upon contact. The patient underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and biopsy. Initial histopathological examination rendered as well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Post operatively, despite persistent nasal symptoms, the patient defaulted on treatment. Two months later, he presented to the emergency department with painless, progressive left eye swelling, accompanied by left eye vision loss, reduced hearing, and tinnitus for 1 week. Examination revealed proptosis of the left eye, firm and non tender swelling over the left maxillary region, and a fleshy mass occupying the entire left nostril. Imaging studies showed extensive disease involving the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, left orbit with intracranial extension, and bony erosions. Histopathological examination from a biopsy confirmed Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC). The patient was staged as cT4bN0M0 and planned for chemotherapy but defaulted after 2 cycles due to intolerable side effects. He succumbed to locally advanced disease a month later. SNUC is a rare and highly aggressive malignant neoplasm originating from the epithelial lining of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Its aggressive nature often results in large and extensive tumors at the time of diagnosis, with a short duration of symptoms. While initial treatment involves surgical resection, complete tumor removal is often challenging due to complex anatomy. Aggressive multimodality treatment is recommended, although SNUC carries a high rate of local recurrence and increased morbidity and mortality. Sciencedomain International 2025-09-15 Article NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/13/123719_A%20case%20report%20on%20sinonasal.pdf Mariappen, Suraien and Lim, Walter Yung Chwen and Ng, Pui Foong and Maruthamuthu, Thevagi and Rozhan, 'Atikah (2025) A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges. Journal of Cancer and Tumor International, 15 (4). pp. 71-78. ISSN 2454-7360 https://journaljcti.com/index.php/JCTI/article/view/323 10.9734/jcti/2025/v15i4323
spellingShingle RF Otorhinolaryngology
Mariappen, Suraien
Lim, Walter Yung Chwen
Ng, Pui Foong
Maruthamuthu, Thevagi
Rozhan, 'Atikah
A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title_full A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title_fullStr A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title_full_unstemmed A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title_short A case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
title_sort case report on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a surgeon’s challenge or simply treatment challenges
topic RF Otorhinolaryngology
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/13/123719_A%20case%20report%20on%20sinonasal.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/123719/
https://journaljcti.com/index.php/JCTI/article/view/323
url_provider http://irep.iium.edu.my/