A case report of surgical resection of secretory carcinoma in the maxillary and ethmoid sinus

INTRODUCTION: Secretory Carcinoma is a recently discovered head and neck tumour. Surgical resection is generally the first line of treatment with neck dissection, radiation, and chemotherapy decided based on clinical, radiological, and histological parameters. We present a case of a Secretory Carcinoma presenting in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. CASE: A 39-year-old male presented with left nasal obstruction and chronic rhinosinusitis beginning after surgical repair of the mandible and maxilla due to facial trauma. A CT scan of the head showed soft tissue density in the left maxillary sinus extending through the ethmoid sinus and posterior nasal cavity. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) was performed to remove the obstructing lesion. Biopsy was analysed and the main differential diagnosis was between a non-intestinal type adenocarcinoma of nasal origin and a salivary carcinoma. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, there have only been two cases of Secretory Carcinoma reported in the sinuses: one case in the ethmoid sinus and the other in the maxillary sinus. This is the first to report follow up at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Both MRI and exam showed no evidence of recurrent disease at one year follow up. This report aims to further the understanding of Secretory Carcinoma tumours in the sinuses. Our report could be used to further understand diagnostic criteria for Secretory Carcinoma in the sinuses as well as treatment outcomes for surgical resection without adjuvant treatment.