Endoscopic management viable for sinonasal schwannomas

(HealthDay)—Endoscopic management is feasible for sinonasal schwannomas, according to research published online Feb. 15 in Head & Neck.

Apostolos Karligkiotis, M.D., from the University of Sassari in Italy, and colleagues examined the advantages, limitations, and outcomes of endoscopic management of sinonasal schwannomas in a retrospective analysis. Data were included for 11 patients treated endoscopically at a single institution between 2000 and 2014.

The researchers note that eight patients underwent an exclusive endoscopic endonasal approach, while an osteoplastic flap was combined in three patients because of massive or lateral frontal sinus involvement. In five cases, the tumor extended into the orbit. In five patients the tumor involved the skull base; these patients required concomitant endoscopic duraplasty. In 10 patients, no evidence of disease was observed after a mean follow-up of 90.1 months. One patient had persistence of disease, but was asymptomatic.

"The endoscopic endonasal approach is a valid alternative for the vast majority of sinonasal schwannomas with minimal morbidity for the patient," the authors write.