Endonasal Endoscopic Treatment of Petrous Apex Lesions

Surgery of the petrous apex (PA) lesions is a surgical challenge. We present our experience in the management of benign and malignant lesions by endoscopic transnasal approaches. In the last years, and thanks to the development of dedicated surgical instrumentation, improvement of skull base reconstruction techniques, and a better knowledge of the anatomy, endoscopic treatment of lesions in the PA area became possible. An extended endonasal approach to petrous apex lesions is a safe and effective procedure for appropriately selected patients by a team of experienced endoscopic skull base surgeons

An asymptomatic schwannoma of the nasal septum: report of a unique case.

Schwannomas of the nasal septum are extremely rare, and therefore their diagnosis and treatment can pose certain challenges. We describe the case of an incidentally discovered schwannoma of the nasal septum that was unique in that the lesion was completely asymptomatic. In view of our finding, we believe that routine examinations of both nasal fossae should be considered during routine diagnostic laryngeal flexible endoscopy

The endoscopic transnasal paraseptal approach to a sphenoid sinus osteoma: case report and literature review

Osteomas are the most common benign tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Their symptoms, which are nonspecific, occur as the result of a blocked nasal airflow or, in some rare cases, the involvement of nearby structures. Isolated sphenoid sinus osteomas are very rare, as only 20 cases have been previously reported in the literature. Most authors advise surgical treatment for symptomatic lesions. Surgical access to the sphenoid sinus has traditionally been a challenge for surgeons. We describe an endoscopic transnasal paraseptal resection of a sphenoid osteoma in a 35-year-old man. We also discuss surgical access and review the evolution of the surgical approaches to the sphenoid sinus

Evolution in the treatment of sinonasal inverted papilloma: Pedicle-oriented endoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND: In the literature, the global endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) success in the treatment of sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) is 95%. This study was designed to describe a conservative endoscopic approach, based on research of the tumor's pedicle and treatment concentrated on its site of attachment, and to compare the results of this technique with the outcome of standard endoscopic treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the patients treated in our institution for paranasal inverted papilloma (IP), between 2002 and 2011 with a minimum of 18 months follow-up was performed. Group A received a standard ESS including whole sinus demucosization (maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, or sphenoid sinus) and bony wall drilling. Group B patients instead underwent pedicle-oriented endoscopic surgery (POES); in this group, bony demucosization and drilling were selectively conducted around the site of pedicle attachment of the tumor. RESULTS: The cohort included 73 patients (median age, 60.5 years; median follow-up, 58 months). Group A/group B consisted of 37/36 patients. IP persistence-recurrence for group A/group B was 0/1 cases. Oncological success for global endoscopic/group A/group B was 98.6% (72/73)/100% (37/37)/97.2% (35/36). We noticed a significant difference in surgical operative time and postoperative complication rate among the groups, in favor of POES technique. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm the efficacy of the endonasal endoscopic treatment for sinonasal IP. Moreover, the even more conservative endoscopic treatment proposed (POES) seems to offer good control of the disease, shorter operating times, avoidance of unnecessary surgery with respect to uninvolved structures, and permits a follow-up aimed at the site of the pedicle attachment