The Surgical Approach for Removal of Inverted Papilloma Originating from the Frontal Sinus

Background and Objectives：The surgical approach for the removal of inverted papilloma (IP) involving the frontal sinus (FS) depends on the site of tumor origin. This study was designed to determine the appropriate surgical approach according to the site of origin in the FS. Subjects and Method：Eleven patients with IPs originating from the FS, who had surgery at the department of ORL-HNS, Pusan National University Hospital from 1998 to 2007, were retrospectively reviewed for the site of tumor origin, surgical approach, recurrence, mode of reoperation, and complications. The mean age was 53.8 years with a male-to-female ratio of 7：4. The average follow-up duration was 35.7 months. Results：The sites of tumor origin were the whole wall (2/11), medial wall (3/11), intersinus septal cell (2/11), lateral wall (1/11), posterior wall (1/11), anterior wall (1/11) and diffuse whole wall with invasion into the opposite sinus (1/11). In the two cases with whole wall involvement, one was treated by an osteoplastic frontal sinus surgery (OPF) and the other by a modified endoscopic Lothrop operation (MEL). The case with diffuse anterior wall origin was treated by OPF. For the two cases with the intersinus septal cell origin, one was reoperated using MEL after recurrence and the other was initially treated with MEL. A recurrent case with the lateral wall origin was reoperated by MEL. IPs originating from the posterior or medial wall were successfully managed by endoscopic surgery /c or /s trephination. Conclusion： IPs originating from the FS were successfully managed by the integrated endoscopic-assisted approach to the FS. Especially, MEL was a safe and effective alternative treatment to OPF for IPs originating from the FS. (Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck