Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma with intracranial extension: Report of two cases with literature review

Abstract

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is a highly aggressive rare tumor of the nasal cavity. Surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation is the mainstay of treatment in SNTCS. However, intracranial extension may complicate surgical resection, with difficulty in achieving R0 resection. Here we present two cases of SNTCS with intracranial extension; both patients were seen in skull base clinic of our hospital and deemed unsuitable for surgery. These patients then were offered neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), both patients had a partial response with cisplatin and etoposide protocol; subsequently they underwent R0 resection (no macroscopic residual tumor at surgery with all margins were negative for tumor on microscopy). The present cases highlight the fact that NACT with cisplatin and etoposide protocol may be considered in technically unresectable SNTCS.