Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; diagnosis ; surgery

Objective To explore the application of endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recessmaxillary sinus approach in surgery for lesions in the pterygopalatine fossa.Methods Five patients with tumors of pterygopalatine fossa were treated by endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus surgery between May 2008 and May 2011.The lesions treated included 4 schwannoma and 1 neurofibroma.The operation began with endoscopic transnasal lateral nasal wall approach to maxillary sinus.Then after opening posterior wall of maxillary sinus,the pterygopalatine fossa was entered and the tumor was removed.The operation was performed under hypotension anaesthesia.Results The tumors were removed totally in all 5 patients.No complication was found.After the surgery,all patients fully recovered and were discharged from the hospital in 5 to 12 days.No recurrence and death occurred during the follow up periods ranging from 5 to 28 months.Conclusions Endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus approach is safe and effective management for benign tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa.This approach reserved nasolacrimal duct and turbinate,maintained the structure and function of the nose,with decreased morbidity and shorter recovery periods.