Endoscopic endonasal surgery in the management of selected malignant naso-ethmoidal tumors

Objective

The objective of this study was to report the cases of three patients with sinonasal malignant tumors who underwent en bloc tumor resection using endoscopic endonasal approaches, and to discuss the advantages and limitations of endoscopic endonasal tumor resection.

Methods

Three patients with malignant naso-ethmoidal tumors underwent en bloc resection with endoscopic endonasal approach.

Results

In very carefully selected cases of naso-ethmoidal malignant tumors that were preoperatively evaluated on endoscopic findings and magnetic resonance imaging to be limited to within the nasal cavity and/or ethmoid sinus and to have some safe margins between the tumor and skull base and/or lamina papyracea, tumors were resected en bloc using endoscopic endonasal approaches. A case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage was safely managed with the endoscopic approach.

Conclusions

In selected T1–T2 naso-ethmoidal malignant tumors with some safe margins, endoscopic endonasal surgery may offer a satisfactory alternative to external procedures.