How many unilateral opacities of the paranasal sinuses are really malignant? – A 5-year analysis

Introduction:

Cancer of the paranasal sinuses is rare (3 – 5%) and often a late diagnosed tumor of the head-neck-area. The literature suggests that single sided opacities of the paranasal sinuses are suspected to be malignant. This study analyzes the different diseases regarding paranasal sinuses.

Methods:

In this retrospective study patient- and surgery-data, as well as radiological and histological findings of the clinic for otorhinolaryngology of the university hospital Magdeburg between 2013 and 2017 were evaluated.

Results:

374 patients were included in this study. Histological findings declare 94.9% benign, while 5.1% were malignant tumor. Within the group of benign diseases of the paranasal sinuses were 64.6% chronic sinusitis, 10.1% aspergilloma, 10.7% cysts, 4.2% mucocels/pyocels and 9.3% inverted papilloma. Within the malignant diseases were 26.3% squamos skin cell cancer, 26.3% malignant melanoma, 10.5% SNUK, 5.3% adenocarcinoma, 5.3% meningioma and 15.8% metastases.

The average age with a benign disease was 52.2 years while the average age with a cancer was 62.9 years. The distribution between the sexes for benign diseases was 1.3 (males): 1 (females) and for the malignant diseases 1 (males): 2.8 (females). During the preoperative period 93.1% of the patients had a CT, 2.7% a MRT, 1.9% both and 1.9% only x-ray.

Conclusion:

In comparison to a study from 2008/09 in the same hospital, malignant diseases were found in 5.1% of the unilateral operated patients (compared to 7%). This reduced percentage can be explained by the increased number of operated benign diseases.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)