In a case of olfactory esthesioneuroma, of which an unfixed specimen and blood sample were available, we demonstrated immunohistochemically and biochemically the presence of dopamine-B-hydroxylase and catecholamines in low concentration. This result indicates that this nasal tumor is probably of sympathetic origin, in whole or in part, and provides a new aid in diagnosis.Furthermore, biochemical assay of dopamine, V.M.A., and H.V.A. excretion in urine could perhaps bring information of diagnostic and prognostic value before and after treatment. Institute a case of O.E.N. for which the unfixed specimen and a blood sample were available.CASE REPORT A 40-year-old Algerian male (010/72.1079 KH.) was well until February, 1972, when he suffered a progressive obstruction of nasal fossae with intermittent epistaxis; the otolaryngologist noted a polypoid mass invading the right nasal fossa, the ethmoid, the right choana, and the maxillary sinus. The cervical nodes were normal. Roentgenographic studies revealed clouding of these structures and destruction of nasal sinus and sphenoid bone. A biopsy was made, which revealed a tumor with two different cellular components : an epithelial component corresponding to the supportive elements of the olfactory mucosa, and a nervous component corresponding to the true olfactory cells. The former consisted of small tumor strands with many rosettes arranged around central cavities; the latter was of nerve origin and was made of lymphocytoid cells intermingled with numerous nerve fibrils as demonstrated by Bodian stain. These long and delicate fibrils were grouped into bundles that ran through the neoplasm in all directions. The stroma was loose and highly edematous, with intense inflammatory reaction. Because of these two components and the ethmoidal location of the tumor, the diagnosis made was olfactory esthesioneuroepithelioma (Fig. 1).A few days later, the patient was taken to surgery and the tumor was removed as completely as possible by ethmoidectomy, partial maxillectomy, and sphenoidectomy. The specimen and 10 cm3 of blood were immediately sent to the laboratory of pathology for histochemical and biochemical investigations.

Intracellular levels of adenosine 3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate were measured in breast carcinomas. These levels were increased significantly as compared to normal breast tissues. In benign breast tumors, intermediate levels of adenosine 3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate were observed, but they did not differ significantly with malignant tissues. No relation has been shown with estradiol or progesterone binding sites.

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