Transnasal endoscopic surgery for neoplasms of the nose and sinuses

Endoscopic sinus surgery has become readily accepted as the standard of care in the management of medically unresponsive inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses. Increased skill in the use of rigid telescopes and a better understanding of the complex anatomy of the paranasal sinuses and surrounding orbital and skull base structures has allowed rhinologic surgeons to extend the applications of endoscopic sinus surgery. Alternative treatment options for the surgical management of a variety of benign and malignant neoplasms of the paranasal sinuses, orbit, and skull base have been proposed. This article reviews the recent literature pertaining to endoscopic management of neoplasms involving the nose and paranasal sinuses. The clinical results and complications associated with endoscopic approaches are compared with "traditional" external surgical approaches, In the hands of experienced and skilled surgeons, complete endoscopic resection is attainable in most cases. Large tumor size, extranasal tumor extension, poor endoscopic visualization, and evidence of malignancy are still considered as "absolute" contraindications for endoscopic resection. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999, 7:84-89.