Endoscopic transnasal management of sinonasal malignancies – our initial experience

INTRODUCTION: Malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses are traditionally managed through external approaches. Advances in endoscopic transnasal surgery have allowed for the endoscopic treatment of some of these tumors. AIM: To present the results of treatment of a series of patients with paranasal sinus malignancies treated with an endoscopic approach at a single institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data on tumor type, operative technique, perioperative complications and postoperative course were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. The histopathology was as follows: malignant melanoma in 3 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 2, adenocarcinoma in 2, poorly differentiated carcinoma in 1, hemangiopericytoma in 1, adenoid cystic carcinoma in 1 and fibrosarcoma in 1. There were no severe perioperative complications with the exception of 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid leak, which was successfully closed. The mean observation period was 13.5 months. One of the patients died of disease, another was lost to follow-up, and one was reoperated on due to recurrence. The remaining 8 patients are alive with no signs of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience seems to confirm results obtained by other authors indicating that in selected cases endoscopic surgery of sinonasal malignancies is similarly effective as external approach surgery.