Background: The goal of this study was to assess the potentials and limitations of endonasal micro-endoscopic surgery in the treatment of sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) and to demonstrate long-term results.
Patients and methods: From 1989 to 2005, 64 patients underwent resection of IP via an endonasal approach using either the endoscope or microscope. Charts were reviewed retrospectively for presenting symptoms, radiological and intraoperative data. All patients were followed by endoscopic and MRI control during a period of up to 174 months, median follow-up was 78 months.
Results: Our study group consisted of 26 male and 38 female patients with an average age of 54.3 years. The majority of the patients (67 %) complained of unilateral nasal obstruction. 52 patients (81 %) were referred for primary surgery. In 12 cases (19 %) recurrent tumors were operated. According to the Krouse classification for IP the tumors were staged as T1 = 11 (17 %) cases, T2 = 37 (58 %) and T3 = 14 (22 %). In two patients a squamous cell carcinoma was associated with an IP ( = T4 stage). Most tumors were localized within the nasal cavity (72 %) or the anterior ethmoid (62 %). In 10 patients an infiltration of the bony skull base was present. During the follow-up period 6 patients developed recurrencies corresponding to an overall recurrence rate of 9.4 %.
Conclusions: The advances in endonasal micro-endoscopic surgery allow both safe and effective removal of IP with low morbidity, and therefore it should be the approach of the first choice. The osteoplastic approach combined with endonasal surgery is suitable in far lateral located IP. Close follow-up is mandatory to ensure the surgical success.