Modified Lothrop (Draf III) procedure for the treatment of a recurrent orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma: A case report

Orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma is a rare occurrence. Here, we present a case involving a 64-year-old man with a recurrent orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma treated by the Modified Lothrop (Draf III) procedure. The patient, who had a history of trauma and previous sinus surgery, presented with chief complaints of nasal congestion, olfactory impairment, and diplopia. We suspected chronic sinusitis; computed tomography showed a soft-tissue shadow extending from the bilateral frontal sinuses to the ethmoid sinuses, with a cyst in the right orbitofrontal region. We performed endoscopic surgery for removal of the mass, and histopathological analysis of the resected specimen confirmed a diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma. The lesion recurred 2 months later, and we performed revision surgery using the Modified Lothrop or Draf III procedure. The patient showed no relapse at the 5-year follow-up. These findings suggest that the Draf III procedure is an effective surgical treatment for cholesterol granulomas.

The endoscopic modified lothrop procedure: Review of single institution experience and long-term outcomes

Background

Endoscopic Modified Lothrop Procedure (EMLP) has become a fundamental practice in rhinology. Improvements in symptom burden, ostial patency, morbidity, and costs have surpassed that of an open approach to the frontal sinus. Long‐term efficacy has not been well established.

Objective

This study details the long‐term outcomes of EMLP and risk factors for subsequent surgical revision at a single institution.

Methods

This study utilized a retrospective review of patients who underwent EMLP from September 2006 to February 2017 by a single surgeon at an academic tertiary referral center. Patient demographics, indications, symptom burden, and endoscopic assessment of frontal ostium patency were analyzed for their effect on surgical outcome. Risk factors for failures were identified.

Results

Seventy‐six consecutive patients with an average age of 58.1 years met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent EMLP for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS, 59%), neoplasm (26%), and mucoceles (15%). The average number of standard endoscopic sinus surgeries prior to EMLP was 2.9. The mean follow‐up of the cohort was 34.8 months, at the end of which, EMLP was successful in 78% of all patients, requiring no further surgery. Ninety percent of patients reported significant clinical improvement at the most recent follow‐up. Subgroup analysis of CRS patients revealed an equally high success rate but a higher likelihood of ostial closure. Recurrent disease necessitated revision endoscopic surgery in 17 patients, the majority of whom suffered CRS. Only tissue eosinophilia was identified to significantly increase the risk of revision surgery.

Conclusions

The majority of the patients who undergo EMLP achieve sustained patency of the frontal sinus outflow tract and adequate symptom improvement. Prominent tissue eosinophilia identifies patients at risk of requiring additional frontal sinus surgery.

Level of Evidence

4.

A Short Term Subjective and Objective Analysis of Modified Endoscopic Lothrop's Procedure and Its Functional Outcome: Our Experience

To study the short-term functional outcomes of the endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure with well defined subjective and objective criteria. It's a retrospective cohort study with chart review carried out at a tertiary referral center. 31 patients with chronic frontal sinusitis who underwent endoscopic modified Lothrop's procedure with uncinate preservation during the period Jan 2011-2014 were followed up for a period of minimum 6 months. Assessment was done post-operatively based on subjective severity score and Kennedy's 5 point endoscopic criteria. Subjective improvement was seen in all symptoms whereas statistically significant improvement was found for the three parameters headache (p < 0.025), nose block (p < 0.03) and rhinorrhea (p < 0.05). Post operative nasal endoscopy revealed crusting and polypoidal mucosa in few patients which were managed conservatively. Asymptomatic narrowing of ostium seen in two patients. No complications were identified. The study illustrates the benefit obtained from endoscopic modified Lothrop's surgery in chronic frontal sinusitis refractory to medical treatment and standard endoscopic sinus surgery.

Pediatric sinogenic epidural and subdural empyema: The role of endoscopic sinus surgery

AIM

To analyze the indications and outcomes of open neurosurgical approaches (ONA) and endoscopic transnasal approaches (ETA) in the surgical management of pediatric sinogenic subdural and epidural empyema.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective single-center study design within a tertiary care referral center setting. Children less than 18 years of age consecutively operated on between January 2012 and February 2014 for drainage of a sinogenic subdural empyema (SE) or epidural (EE) empyema were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

success of first surgical procedure, persistent symptoms and sequelae at the end of the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Nine SE (53%) and 8 EE (47%) were observed. Neurological symptoms, especially seizures, were more frequent in the SE group. Perioperative pus samples were positive in 67% of the SE group and in 75% of the EE group. The most frequently isolated bacteria belonged to the Streptococcus anginosus group. CT or MR imaging showed that most empyema probably originated from the frontal sinus. However, two cases resulted from an ethmoiditis and one case from a Pott's puffy tumor, without any direct contact with the paranasal sinus. In cases of SE, the most effective surgical technique was ONA with craniotomy. Associated endoscopic sinus drainage was useful for the purpose of bacteriological diagnosis. In cases of EE, effectiveness was noted in both ONA and ETA techniques. In two cases of EE, the ETA procedure encompassed direct drainage of the empyema through the posterior wall of the frontal sinus (Draf III approach). The number of patients successfully treated after a single surgical procedure was higher in the EE group (p=0.05). Regarding outcomes, no mortalities were observed. Persistent disorders at the end of the follow-up period, especially headaches, cognitive, concentration or schooling problems, tended to be more frequent in the SE group than in the EE group (67% vs 29%), and were more commonly observed in cases requiring several surgical procedures (75% vs 12.5%) (p=0.05).

DISCUSSION

Endoscopic sinus surgery plays a critical role in the surgical management of pediatric sinogenic SE and EE. In cases of small volume EE, the endoscopic approach associated with antibiotherapy may be sufficient to treat the infectious process.

Frontal ostium neo-osteogenesis and patency after Draf III procedure: a computer-assisted study

BACKGROUND

Stenosis of the frontal neo-ostium after Draf III procedure has been associated with inflammatory risk factors. However, the degree to which neo-osteogenesis contributes to postsurgical stenosis of the frontal neo-ostium is unclear.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with chronic frontal sinusitis who underwent Draf III procedure and had been followed for at least 12 months were included. Paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans were performed 7 days and 1 year postoperatively. The frontal neo-ostium cross-sectional area and the amount of frontal neo-osteogenesis were measured by a standardized protocol using triplanar radiologic viewing software. Association between the severity of frontal neo-osteogenesis and the patency of the neo-ostium was analyzed, as was the correlation between the extent of neo-osteogenesis and the preoperative Global Osteitis Scoring Scale (GOSS), Lund-Mackay score (LMS), Lund-Kennedy score (LKS), serum eosinophil count, and history of previous surgery.

RESULTS

At 1 year postoperatively, significant inverse correlation was found between the size of the frontal neo-ostium and the extent of neo-osteogenesis. According to a multiple linear regression model, the severity of neo-osteogenesis was positively correlated with preoperative GOSS and negatively correlated with asthma (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was no association between extent of neo-osteogenesis and the preoperative LMS, LKS, serum eosinophil count, and history of previous surgery.

CONCLUSION

Neo-osteogenesis has a significant impact on the patency of the frontal neo-ostium but appears unrelated to inflammatory factors. Patients with a higher risk for developing neo-osteogenesis can be identified preoperatively based on GOSS; these patients may benefit from closer monitoring during the follow-up period.

Frontal sinus drillout (modified Lothrop procedure): long-term results in 204 patients

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To determine the long-term results of frontal sinus drillout (also known as modified Lothrop procedure) for the treatment of advanced frontal sinus disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review.

METHODS

The records of patients who underwent frontal sinus drillout by a single surgeon at an academic medical center from June 1995 through November 2011 were reviewed. Patient demographics and perioperative clinical findings were analyzed for their impact on surgical outcome. Failure was defined as restenosis of the frontal drainage pathways, necessitating additional frontal sinus surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 204 patients underwent frontal drillout surgery (143 bilateral procedures) over the 16-year period. Mean follow-up was 10.2 years (range 0.9-17 years). Symptomatic re-obstruction of the frontal sinus requiring revision surgery occurred in 61 (29.9%) patients. Drillouts performed for a diagnosis of mucocele or tumor had significantly higher failure rate (38.9%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.9, P = 0.022 and 58.3%, OR = 5.3, P = 0.020, respectively). The majority of surgical failures (61%) occurred within 2 years of surgery, but delayed failures were observed up to 12 years after drillout. Clinical outcome did not correlate with a history of smoking, asthma, nasal allergy, aspirin sensitivity, prior sinus surgery, nasal polyposis, or the presence of eosinophilic mucin.

CONCLUSION

For the majority of patients who undergo frontal sinus drillout, patency of the frontal sinus outflow tract appears to be maintained for more than a decade; nevertheless, almost one-third of patients who undergo this procedure will ultimately require additional frontal sinus surgery.