Esthesioneuroblastoma classification

Kadish staging system.

Pathologic grading

Hyams grading, a system used to define all upper respiratory tract carcinomas, is utilized to assess nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic activity, rosette presence, and necrosis, and summates these to produce Hyams 1–4 classification 1) It has been shown in the meta-analysis, as well as in large series, that Hyams grade 1 and 2 predict benign disease course, as compared to Hyams 3 and 4, which predict poor disease course. It is recommended that grading be performed in all cases 2) 3).


Vuong et al. verified that the Hyams grading system appears to be a reliable prognostic indicator to assess ENB patient outcomes. Consolidating the Hyams grading system into a three-tier system based on similar clinical outcomes of grades I and II may simplify this classification schema 4).

1)
Hyams V. Tumors of the upper respiratory tract and ear. Washington, D.C.: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; 1988
2)
Van Gompel JJ, Giannini C, Olsen KD, et al. Long- term outcome of esthesioneuroblastoma: Hyams grade predicts patient survival. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2012; 73:331–336
3)
Kane AJ, Sughrue ME, Rutkowski MJ, et al. Posttreatment prognosis of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma. J Neurosurg. 2010; 113:340–351
4)
Vuong HG, Ngo TNM, Dunn IF. Consolidating the Hyams grading system in esthesioneuroblastoma - an individual participant data meta-analysis. J Neurooncol. 2021 Mar 26. doi: 10.1007/s11060-021-03746-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33770323.