Glomangiopericytoma, a new term referring to the sinonasal type hemangiopericytoma, is a rare sinonasal tumor arising from modified perivascular glomus-like myoid cells. It is a borderline, low grade malignancy tumor, which has good prognosis following a complete surgical resection. Recently, we experienced a case of a glomangiopericytoma in a 68-year-old woman who presented with epistaxis and unilateral nasal obstruction. Endoscopic examinations revealed polypoid mass with bleeding tendency in the left middle meatus. The tumor was located mainly in the left ethmoid sinus and we removed it successfully by endoscopic approach. Histological examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of glomangiopericytoma. We present the clinical and histological characteristics, therapeutic principles, and prognosis of this rare disease entity with a literature review.
Epistaxis ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Hemangiopericytoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nasal Obstruction ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

Women after the menopause appear to be more susceptible to sleep related breathing disorders (SBDs). The increased prevalence of SBDs in postmenopausal women may be related to weight gain and the decline in female sex hormones levels. These conditions may cause upper airway obstruction, which can result in sleep disruption. Other sleep disorders, such as insomnia, depression, and fibromyalgia must be ruled out with SBDs in postmenopausal women with sleep difficulties. Once SBD is strongly suspected through medical history and precise physical examinations, polysomnogram is required for confirmatory diagnosis. In addition, other examinations besides polysomnogram should be performed to detect obstructed regions. Treatment of SBD can be classified into surgical method and non-surgical method. Treatment options must be carefully selected by considering the patient's clinical examinations, patient's preference, age and life style.
Airway Obstruction ; Depression ; Female ; Fibromyalgia ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Life Style ; Menopause ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Respiration ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the frequency of nasal septal perforation at the suture fixation site of a silastic sheet inserted during nasal surgery. METHODS: Seven hundred and twenty-one patients with silastic sheet insertion during common nasal surgeries were examined. The frequency of perforations and subjective symptoms of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Nasal septal perforation at the suture fixation site occurred in seven patients (0.97%). In three patients, perforations occurred immediately after removal of the sheet, while four patients developed perforations 2 to 4 weeks later. In most cases, perforations were small and did not exceed 2 to 3 mm in diameter. No patient complained of nasal symptoms related to the septal perforation postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The frequency of the septal perforation at the suture fixation site of a silastic sheet was very low and subjective symptoms were absent.
Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Humans ; Nasal Septal Perforation ; Nasal Septum ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Sutures

Hemangiomas are the most common vascular tumor of the head and neck region, but rarely involve the sinonasal cavity. The majority of these lesions present as a benign tumor of the skin and mucosa. Moreover, most nasal hemangiomas occur in the nasal septum or vestibule. The authors experienced a case of subcutaneous cavernous hemangioma that occurred from right nasolabial fold in a 40-year-old man, which was successfully treated by sublabial approach. We expected the tumor as a radicular or nasolabial cyst because of its location, clinical feature, and radiologic findings. However, the final pathologic diagnosis was cavernous hemangioma. We present the clinical characteristics, radiologic findings, and treatment of a subcutaneous hemangioma with a review of the literature.
Adult ; Caves ; Head ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Septum ; Nasolabial Fold ; Neck ; Skin

Chondrosarcoma of the ethmoid sinus is a rare malignant tumor and has a poor prognosis due to the frequent local recurrence and distant metastasis. It has unique and distinctive histologic characteristics, being composed of chondroid tumor cells with spindled cytoplasmic extensions. Wide surgical resection is the treatment of choice and radiation or chemotherapy can be combined with the surgery. The prognosis of chondrosarcoma depends on the anatomical location, resectability, and cytologic differentiation of the tumor. The authors experienced a case of huge chondrosarcoma of the left nasal cavity in a 47-year-old woman, which was resected successfully via endoscopic approach. We present the clinical characteristics, pathology, treatment, and prognosis of the tumor with a review of the literature.
Chondrosarcoma ; Cytoplasm ; Endoscopes ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: Surgical excision via a sublabial approach is considered the standard treatment for nasolabial cysts. Although transnasal marsupialization has been proposed as an alternative method, no prospective study has compared the effectiveness of these techniques. We thus compared the surgical procedure, operating time, postoperative pain, complications, and recurrence rate between the two surgical methods. METHODS: Twenty patients diagnosed with nasolabial cysts were allocated randomly into two groups according to the surgical technique. In the sublabial approach group, the cysts were excised completely using a sublabial approach, while in the transnasal marsupialization group, the cysts were marsupialized transnasally under the guidance of nasal endoscopes. The pure operating time was measured and postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Complications after the procedure were assessed and recurrence was determined according to the clinical symptoms and postoperative radiologic findings. RESULTS: The transnasal marsupialization group had significantly shorter operating times, less postoperative pain, lower complication rates, and shorter duration of side effects than the sublabial approach group. No recurrence occurred in either group after a 1-yr follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Although both methods are effective for treating nasolabial cysts, the transnasal marsupialization of nasolabial cysts has many benefits over the conventional sublabial approach. Therefore, we propose that transnasal marsupialization be the treatment of choice for nasolabial cysts.
Endoscopes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy and commonly asymptomatic until the tumor has extensively progressed. Patients with SNUC usually show the involvement of multiple sinuses and the nasal cavity. In addition, the invasion of the orbit or cranial vault is a frequent finding. Most case series of SNUC report very poor prognosis despite aggressive multimodality therapy. We present a case of SNUC in a 19-year old female occurred from the right ethmoid sinus with invasion to the orbital content.
Carcinoma ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; Nasal Cavity ; Orbit ; Prognosis

Nasal dermoid cysts are rare neoplasms, which are diagnosed frequently in childhood. These lesions are derived from both ectoderm and mesoderm, and have keratinizing epithelium with skin appendages. A fistula, pit, or mass is the common clinical presentation. The diagnosis is primarily based on the medical history, physical examination, clinical symptoms, and radiologic findings. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. A 15-year-old boy presented with a fistula on the nasal vestibule, which existed from birth. Fistulography revealed a contrast-filling fistulous tract and cyst in the caudal portion of the nasal septum. The lesion was removed surgically and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst. We report, with a review of the literature, a rare case of dermoid cyst that occurred from the nasal septum.
Adolescent ; Dermoid Cyst ; Ectoderm ; Epithelium ; Fistula ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mesoderm ; Nasal Septum ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Skin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various surgical methods have been tried to relieve the symptoms of nasal obstruction in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Recently, coblators that use radiofrequency and microdebriders are increasingly used in turbinate surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term postoperative outcome between the coblator-assisted and microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We selected 60 patients who had nasal obstruction and hypertrophied turbinate mucosa that was refractory to medical treatment. Thirty patients were treated with coblator (group 1) and 30 patients were treated with microdebrider (group 2). Postoperative changes in degree of nasal obstruction were evaluated prospectively at 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Cross-sectional area of second notch and volume of nasal cavity were compared at 12 months after operation. Operation time, duration of crust formation, postnasal drip and postoperative bleeding were also compared. RESULTS: Nasal obstruction was improved significantly in both groups. However, statistical significance of improvement and rate of patient's satisfaction at 12 months after surgery was higher in group 2. There were no significant differences in the degree of postnasal drip, operation time and duration of crust formation between two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty is more effective and satisfactory in long-term relief of nasal obstruction and reduction of mucosal volume in the anterior head of inferior turbinate.
Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Prospective Studies ; Turbinates

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare tumor of nasal cavity arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium. It is usually presented as a polypoid mass high in the nasal vault including cribriform plate, superior turbinate, and superior portion of nasal septum. Recently, we experienced a case of olfactory neuroblastoma occurred from very atypical location. An 89-year-old man visited our department with symptoms of occasional left nasal bleeding and obstruction. On the endoscopic examination, a polypoid mass with bleeding tendency was observed in the left inferior meatus, but other portions of nasal cavity showed normal appearance. Biopsy was performed and the final pathologic report turned out as olfactory neuroblastoma. We report this unusually presenting case of olfactory neuroblastoma with a review of the literature.
Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Epistaxis ; Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory* ; Ethmoid Bone ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity* ; Nasal Septum ; Turbinates