Endonasal Lacrimal Transposition to Expand Pre-Lacrimal Medial Maxillectomy Approach

EPLA lacrimal transposition facilitates management of maxillary sinus/pterygopalatine fossa lesions and overcomes limitations such as the Simmen type I recess or IPMS pedicled on the medial wall, without increasing peri-operative morbidity. Laryngoscope, 133:2090-2094, 2023.

[Sinonasal cancers]

Sinonasal cancers. Sinonasal cancers (SNC) belong to the spectrum of rare tumors, with respect to other tumors of the head and neck and intrinsically by the multiple histological entities that they cover. It is important to raise awareness among physicians about the diagnostic and therapeutic elements of SNC, as well as their functional consequences, so that these patients are better diagnosed and monitored during and following specific oncological treatment. We also shed light on the various histological entities and new therapeutic options, in particular endoscopic surgery, conformational radiotherapy and systemic treatments. Finally, we underline the importance of the REFCOR network of expertise, which makes it possible to offer optimal management of these rare tumors, and of the CORASSO association, which provides patients a major additional extra-medical support.

[Classification of vascular tumours and vascular malformations. Contribution of the ISSVA 2014/2018 classification]

The study of vascular anomalies, "angiomas", vascular tumours and vascular malformations is made difficult by the great variety and confusion of the names used in the literature for these diseases, some of which are rare. The great merit of the classification proposed by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA), adopted in 2014 and modified in 2018, is to propose a unambiguous nomenclature and to try to group these lesions in a logical way, contrasting with the lists of the usual "classifications". This classification is based on the distinction between proliferative lesions (tumours and reactive lesions) and those which are due to a congenital anomaly of vascular morphogenesis (vascular malformations). It incorporates recent data on the molecular causes of these diseases. The major groups of lesions recognised in this classification will be presented and some lesions of interest briefly discussed. This classification aims to be usable by all medical specialties and applicable to all tissues and organs, even if efforts are still needed to integrate organ-specific names in order to unify the nomenclature and eliminate confusion. Even if it does not solve all the problems in this complex field, the unification of the nomenclature is a major contribution of this classification and pathologists are strongly encouraged to refer to it in daily practice.

Mucocele formation after surgical treatment of inverted papilloma of the frontal sinus drainage pathway

BACKGROUND

Inverted papillomas (IP) inserted in the frontal sinus and/or recess may be treated by using an endoscopic endonasal or an external approach. There are still few data available on this uncommon localization of IPs.

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience in the management of IP of the frontal drainage pathway, to describe a previously unreported specific complication of this surgery, and to discuss the optimal surgical strategy.

METHODS

A retrospective study of the patients at a tertiary care center between 2004 and 2014 who were operated on for an IP with an insertion in the frontal recess and/or the frontal sinus. Clinical charts were reviewed for demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, surgical treatment, and outcome.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were included. Patients were operated on by using a purely endoscopic approach (Draf procedure; n = 14 [51.9%]) when the IP was inserted in the frontal recess and/or the frontal sinus infundibulum (with a nasoseptal-septoturbinal flap placed on the exposed bone in four patients), or by using a combined endoscopic and open approach (osteoplastic flap procedure; n = 13 [48.1%]) when the IP invaded the frontal sinus beyond the infundibulum. There were two recurrences (7.4%), with a mean follow-up of 40 months (range, 9-123 months). During follow-up, single or multiple iatrogenic frontal mucoceles were observed in 10 patients (37%), with a mean delay of 60 months (range, 27-89 months). These mucoceles occurred both after using endoscopic (n = 3) or combined (n = 7) approaches, and required a surgical treatment in eight patients. No postoperative mucocele was observed in the four patients who had had a septal flap.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, an approach based on the localization of the IP insertion provided acceptable results in terms of the local control rate (92.6%). However, the significant rate of postoperative mucoceles indicated that specific strategies (such as local flaps) still need to be developed to avoid this iatrogenic complication.

Sinonasal Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase 1 Rearrangement: Case Study and Literature Review

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors initially described in the lung. About half of them exhibit expression of the ALK1 protein, generally resulting from a gene rearrangement. Paranasal sinus IMTs are extremely uncommon, and gene rearrangement of ALK1 is very rare in this localization. A 47-year-old woman presented with rapidly progressive vision loss in her left eye. Clinical and imaging work-up revealed a tumor invading the left ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses and extending into the nasal cavity, the orbit and the skull base. Complete tumor resection was performed using an endonasal approach. Pathological examination revealed a paranasal localization of IMT, positive for ALK1 immunostaining. FISH analysis showed an ALK1 gene rearrangement. This case illustrates the local aggressive potential for IMTs. Treatment is primarily surgical, but targeted therapies (crizotinib) might be a solution for ALK1 rearranged cases with a poor prognosis.

Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy: Learning curve in terms of mean operative time and conversion and complication rates

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the learning curve for minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT).

METHODS

Fifty consecutive patients were prospectively included in groups corresponding to their surgical order (10 patients in each group).

RESULTS

The mean operation times between 2 neighboring groups were 33.9 minutes longer in group 1 than in group 2 (p = .01) and 25.8 minutes longer in group 3 than in group 4 (p = .002). The conversion rate for technical difficulties in group 1 was 6% (3 of 50). The definitive complication rate was 2% (1 of 50).

CONCLUSIONS

In terms of operative time, 10 patients represented the early stage of the learning curve, and 30 patients represented the number of procedures required to reach an advanced level of skill. Considering the low conversion and complication rates, improved aesthetic results and postoperative course, MIVAT should become a tool in the repertoire of high-volume thyroid surgeons.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibromas: Does an External Approach Still Make Sense?

Objective: Endoscopic removal has recently become the standard procedure in the case of small juvenile angiofibromas. However, large lesions encroaching the skull base remain a challenge. The aim of this work is to define extensions which at present cannot be addressed reasonably endoscopically.

Method: Retrospective review based on cases treated from 2000 to 2010. Ratio of endoscopically treated patients has been analyzed together with staging and topographic description of these lesions.

Results: Fifty-nine patients were treated from 2000 to 2010, of whom 31 were treated endoscopically. Ratio of endoscopic procedures raises from 37% (n = 10) for the 2000 to 2005 period to 84% (n = 26) for the 2006 to 2010 period. This trend, analyzed according to the staging following Radkowski, is not related to earlier diagnosis of smaller tumors, since ratio of stage IIIA is similar. Indeed, development of approaches to pterygopalatine fossa, infratemporal fossa, temporal fossa, inferior orbital fissure, orbital apex, and even cavernous sinus allowed control of deep and far-seated lesions.

Conclusion: Refinement of hemostasis techniques and 4-hands surgery (Castelnuovo) allows the treatment of lateral-seated tumors, even if large. Posterior extensions may be reached through a transpterygoid approach. Only lesions which engulf the ICA or the optic nerve need further evaluation to choose between open approach or incomplete, subtotal removal.