Objectives: Osteomas are osseous tumors that primarily occur at the skull, in particular the paranasal sinus system. Surgical tumor resection is the "gold standard" treatment in symptomatic osteomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of surgical approaches (endoscopic, open, combined) and to provide a step-by-step approach for patients' management.
Methods: Fifty-eight patients (31 m, 27 f, 42.1 ± 15.3 years) that were treated between 2001 and 2015 at our department were included in this retrospective, single center study.
Results: In almost half of cases (n = 28, 48.3%) endoscopic, endonasal approaches were used for tumor resection while open (n = 11, 19%) or combined (n = 19, 32.8%) approaches were used in the rest of the cohort. Open or combined approaches were applied in patients suffering from osteomas localized in the maxillary or frontal sinuses only.
Conclusion: Beside interviews, clinical examination, nasal endoscopy, and computed tomography are crucial for diagnosis of paranasal sinus osteomas. Magnet resonance imaging can be useful in extensive pathologies. The preoperative selection of the optimal approach for osteoma resection might be most challenging in patients' management. Although useful recommendations regarding the use of surgical approaches have been published, technical requirements and surgical experience of surgeons have to be considered in the limitations of endoscopic approaches. If there are doubts about the resectability of an osteoma by an endoscopic approach, the surgical procedure may be started endoscopically, and, if necessary, it can be combined with an external approach.
Level of evidence: IV Laryngoscope, 130:2105-2113, 2020.
Keywords: Osteoma; approach; combined; endoscopic; external; nose; open; paranasal; repair; sinus; surgery.
© 2019 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.