NON-MALIGNANT LESIONS;

CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL PROFILE OF NASAL CAVITY AND PARANASAL SINUSES

Abstract

Background: The presence of a mass in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
may seem to be simple problem, but it is very difficult to differentiate clinically from potentially
malignant tumors. Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation and histopathological
features of the non malignant lesions of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Study Design:
Prospective descriptive study. Place and duration of study: Study was carried out in
departments of Paediatrics and ENT at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Hospital
Sukkur from Jan 2009 to Dec 2012. Patients and Methods: The study included all cases of nonmalignant
masses of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, those attended the Paediatric & ENT
department and underwent the surgical intervention. One hundred twenty non-malignant cases
were enrolled for this study. A separate pro-forma was filled to record the cases biodata, history,
clinical examination, investigations and histopathological diagnosis. All histopathologically
proven malignant masses were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 120 cases 78 (65%)
were males and 42 (35%) were females, with M:F ratio of 1.8:1. The age of presentation ranged
from 8 years to 70 years and mean age was 26.3years. Sinonasal masses were found to be
bilateral in 20 cases (16.67%), right sided in 65 (54.17%) and left sided in 35 (29.16%) cases. The
main presenting symptoms were nasal blockage 110 (91.66%), nasal discharge 102 (85%),
sneezing 60 (50%), hypoinsomnia 36 (30%), epistaxis 24 (20%), headache 20 (18.33%) and
mouth breathing 18 (15%) cases. Polyp was the most common lesion in 86 (71.66%) cases
observed in this study. The common histopathological diagnosis was simple inflammatory nasal
polyp in 48 (40%), allergic nasal polyps 30 (25%) and fibroepithelial polyp in 8 (6.7%), inverted
papilloma in 12 (10%), angiofibroma 6 (5%), capillary hemangioma 4 (3.34%) and
rhinosporidiosis 4 (3.34%) cases. Conclusions: Sinonasal masses have various differential
diagnoses and are still thought to be simple problem in our society. There is a need for early
recognition and referral to ENT surgeon and need histopathological examination of every mass
to confirm the diagnosis.