Endoscopic treatment of benign tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses: a report of 33 cases.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic approach can be used successfully for the treatment of benign tumors such as fibroosseous and vascular lesions, pleomorphic adenoma, glioma, meningioma, and schwannoma.

METHODS: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with benign tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and treated using an endoscopic approach were reviewed retrospectively. The endoscopic approach was simple in 28 cases and associated with an external approach in 5 cases (because of an intracranial extension of the tumor in four patients and its location at the level of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus in the last case).

RESULTS: The resection of the lesions was complete in 32 patients and subtotal in one case. The mean follow-up was 28 months and only two recurrences (6%) were observed in the juvenile angiofibroma group and in the case of the fibrous dysplasia associated to aneurysmal bone cyst, respectively, 20 and 24 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: In selected cases, endoscopic surgery can be considered an effective treatment for the resection of benign tumors involving the sinonasal tract.