Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignant neoplasm which a¡ from the upper nasal cavity. An atypical subdural sprcading, mimicking ah cmpyema, is presented. A 45-year-old man was referred to our department 4 months after transfrontal transbasal resection of a sinonasal esthesioncuroblastoma with extradural extension into the anterior cranial fossa followed by adjuvant radiation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subdural lesion over the right hemisphere. At surgery the tumor was removed subtotally. The histopathological review showed a recurrence of the esthesioneuroblastoma. The patient was treated postoperatively by adjuvant chemotherapy. After a short partial remission the patient developed a left sided hemiparesis and signs of raised intracranial pressure. MRI showed a massive tumor progression over the right hemisphere with diffuse infiltration of the underlying cortex. Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare nasal cavity tumor. The authors present the clinical, neuropathological and neuroradiological features of an extremcly aggressive local metastasis of an esthesioneuroblastoma with atypical subdural spread over the whole hemisphere, mimicking ah empyema.