Endoscopic endonasal surgery in the management of selected malignant naso-ethmoidal tumors

Pathological Features of Free Graft and Pedicled Flap in the Nasal Cavity: An Animal Study

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Recent developments in reconstructive techniques for mucosal defects using mucoperiosteal materials have enabled rapid recovery of physiological function after endoscopic sinus surgery. Clinical trials have described the advantages, disadvantages, and different outcomes of free graft and pedicled flap, which, respectively, sacrifice or preserve blood flow. However, histological changes, that affect the postoperative outcomes after reconstruction, remain unclear. We created an animal model for the reconstruction of mucosal defects using free grafts and pedicled flaps, and evaluated them histologically.

STUDY DESIGN

Animal study.

METHODS

We created mucosal defects in the left nasal septum of 20 rabbits and performed reconstruction with free grafts and pedicled flaps. The distribution of ciliary and goblet cells at the reconstruction site was evaluated after 7 and 28 days using hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections to calculate the Ciliary Cell Index and Goblet Cell Index. The severity of inflammation was assessed using the Cartilage Inflammatory Cell Score.

RESULTS

Crusting and changes in the mucosal morphology at the reconstruction site occurred only in the free graft group. In addition, the pedicled flap group had significantly greater preservation of ciliary and goblet cells and less inflammatory cell infiltration into the septal cartilage (P < .05) than the free graft group.

CONCLUSIONS

After reconstruction procedures for mucosal defects, histopathological differences were observed between the free graft and pedicled flap. Reconstruction with pedicled flaps had advantages including preservation of healthy mucosal epithelium and suppression of inflammation on the reconstruction site. This indicated that reconstruction with pedicled flaps might have advantages over that with free grafts.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 131:E428-E433, 2021.

[Combined Anterior Craniofacial Resection for Locally Advanced Ethmoid Carcinomas]

OBJECTIVE

Carcinoma of the ethmoid sinus is very rare, and treatment for locally advanced tumors remains as a formidable challenge to the clinician. We reviewed cases of ethmoid carcinoma in which anterior craniofacial resection had been undertaken and evaluated the safety and validity of the operative methods.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 13 patients with ethmoid carcinoma who underwent combined anterior craniofacial resection. We evaluated the surgical procedures, complications, outcomes, local recurrence, and the survival rate.

RESULTS

Coronal incision and anterior craniotomy were performed in all cases. Four out of 13 cases underwent ipsilateral orbital exenteration due to involvement of the orbital contents. There were no potentially fatal complications, except for two cases of epidural abscesses which were successfully cured. Positive surgical margins were observed in 6 patients, and they received postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Local recurrences occurred in 4 cases, and 3 died at 9, 11, and 49 months after the surgery. Distant metastasis was not observed during the observation period. The overall 5-year survival rate was 75.2% (Kaplan-Meier method).

CONCLUSION

These tumors were safely removed without severe complications and postoperative mortality. Combined anterior craniofacial resection is an effective and safe option for treatment of locally advanced ethmoid carcinomas after various preoperative treatments.

Role of intraoperative CT-updates during image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery for sinonasal fibro-osseous lesions

Fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma and osteomas are collectively known as fibro-osseous lesions. Occurrence in the sinonasal region is rare, and its management can be technically challenging. We report a case of an 8-year-old female with cemento-ossifying fibroma of the ethmoid sinus who underwent a two-staged, endoscopically assisted, transfacial resection of the lesion and a 31-year-old male with fibrous dysplasia of the ethmoid sinus who underwent endoscopic removal of the tumor. Both cases utilized intraoperative computed tomography (CT)-updated image-guided systems (IGS) to improve surgical precision. In the second patient, further resection was undertaken after CT-update in the same surgery. The postoperative courses were uneventful, and at 1-year follow-up no tumor recurrence was observed in either patient. Our experience suggested that the use of intraoperative CT-updated IGS in endoscopic or endoscopically assisted surgeries for sinonasal fibro-osseous lesions will lead to more optimal tumor control, which can translate into greater patient safety.