Adult-onset woakes' syndrome: Report of two cases

INTRODUCTION: Woakes' syndrome is a rare condition commonly defined as recurrent sinonasal polyposis with consecutive destruction of the nasal pyramid. Till now, only a few cases have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to present the features of woakes' syndrome through two new clinical cases, adding some valuable insight to the recently reported cases. CASE REPORT: We report a series of two consecutive adults male and female patients, aged 55 and 58 years, with Samter's triad, who presented recurrent nasal polyposis and progressive broadening of the nasal dorsum. Facial CT showed in both patients the same radiologic pattern of nasal and paranasal cavities obliteration with nasal bone deformation. Both patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and correction of the bony nasal vault deformity without osteotomies. At 3 months follow-up, the nasal air passage remained free and aesthetic outcomes were observed. DISCUSSION: having been described over 130 years ago, the etiology of woakes' syndrome remains unclear. Treatment includes topical treatment and sinonasal surgery. Surgical treatment of the nasal dorsum deformity is rarely addressed. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the external nose deformity may be successfully corrected by digital compression, in combination with endoscopic sinus surgery.