Frontoethmoid osteoma with pneumocephalus: options for surgical management

Management of paranasal sinus osteomas: A comprehensive narrative review of the literature and an up-to-date grading system

BACKGROUND

Surgical excision represents the unequivocal treatment modality for symptomatic paranasal sinus osteomas. However, the optimal surgical approach and the extent of the surgery, as well as the management stance in the case of an asymptomatic tumor, remain controversial.

METHODS

The MeSH terms 'Osteoma', 'Nasal Cavity', and 'Paranasal Sinuses' were used to retrieve articles concerning the management of paranasal sinus osteomas that were published in the last 30 years, the vast majority of which comprised case reports of one or two cases. Original articles or large series of more than six cases were prioritized.

RESULTS

Our review summarizes previous findings and opinions relevant to the management of symptomatic and asymptomatic paranasal sinus osteomas. The recent shifts in trends of their management are thoroughly discussed. Currently, an extension of the lesion through the anterior frontal sinus wall; an erosion of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus; a far-anterior intraorbital extension; an attachment to the orbital roof beyond the midorbital point; and some patient-specific adverse anatomic variations that may restrict access, are considered strong contraindications to a purely endoscopic approach. On the grounds of this thorough review, a new grading system for frontal and frontoethmoidal osteomas is proposed to allow better conformity to recent advancements and current clinical, research, and educational needs.

CONCLUSION

Over the past 30 years, endoscopic techniques have emerged as the new standard of care for favorably located paranasal sinus osteomas. Nonetheless, open approaches remain indispensable for the management of the more perplexing cases of frontal sinus osteomas.

Frontal Sinus Osteoma: From Direct Excision to Endoscopic Removal

Frontal sinus osteomas are benign bone-forming neoplasms. Ongoing advancements in endoscopic surgery have allowed less invasive surgical approaches to be adopted for removal. The authors systematically reviewed the literature to provide analysis and recommendations for management.One hundred ninety-three publications encompassing 1399 patients met inclusion, with mean age 42.1 ± 13.8 years and a male predominance (59.2%). Symptoms included pain (70.8%); orbital/ocular (20.7%); sinonasal (36.4%); neurologic (6.0%); other (14.5%); and asymptomatic (4.8%). Osteoma was isolated to the frontal sinus (82.9%) or extended into the ethmoid (16.6%), maxillary (0.3%), and sphenoid sinuses (0.2%). There was intracranial extension in 9.5% and intraorbital extension in 18.7%. Of those proceeding to surgery, majority (59.8%) underwent open approaches, followed by endoscopic (25.0%) and combined (11.5%). A significant (P < 0.01) increase in proportion of cases utilizing endoscopic approaches versus open/combined was observed over the period studied. Seventy-one postoperative complications were reported, in 7.5% of endoscopic cases, 27% of open, and 8.8% of combined. Complications were more likely in open/combined surgery, compared with endoscopic (22.3% versus 7.5%, P < 0.001). In 181 patients, completeness of resection was reported (complete resection; 87.8%) and found to be a significant predictor (P < 0.01) for disease recurrence/progression. Mean length of stay for the endoscopic group was 3.1 ± 1.3 days, compared with 7.9 ± 3.1 for open/combined (P < 0.0001).In the management of frontal sinus osteoma, indications for selecting endoscopic versus open approaches have expanded over the past 30 years, as techniques, equipment, and understanding of pathophysiology have evolved. Where endoscopic approaches are possible, they are associated with reduced morbidity and length of stay compared with open approaches.

Reconstructing a Giant Frontal Osteoma With Porex

Osteomas are the most common benign tumors of the paranasal sinuses. They are usually localized in the frontal sinus. Giant osteomas of the frontal sinuses are very rare but readily extend into the intraorbital or intracranial cavity, causing serious complications. This is a report of a 14 year-old boy with a bulging in frontal area and asymptomatic giant osteoma of the frontal sinuses. He had a history of minor trauma that had a bulging after 3 months. However, he referred to a plastic surgeon after 15 months. Computed tomography of the sinuses revealed a 3.5 × 6 cm extremely dense bony mass in the frontal sinus that extended into the left orbit and ethmoid sinus. A bicoronal frontal flap was raised with a V-shaped skin incision starting from the tragus placed 5 cm posterior to the hairline. The osteoma was resected completely in the frontal sinus and the anterior wall of frontal sinus was reconstructed with Porex. The patient has not had any complications until the time of writing this report. Titanium mesh may still be a valuable option, but Medpore Porex has shown to be quite effective in this case.