The Possible Role of Endoscopy in Diagnosis of Benign Tumors of the Nasal Cavity.

BACKGROUND: Benign tumors of the nasal cavity represent a large variety of different histopathological entities. Although advances in nasal endoscopy over the past couple of decades have made it possible to detect the vast majority of these lesions, accurate diagnosis and proper management can be delayed since they are misdiagnosed as inflammatory paranasal sinus disease or simple epistaxis.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study are to determine the relative incidence of benign tumor of the nasal cavity and to provide typical endoscopic features of common tumors. This information can potentially improve clinicians' comprehension of benign tumors of the nasal cavity and be helpful in making provisional diagnosis.

RESULTS: The present study included 32 patients (25 males, 7 females) with benign tumor of the nasal cavity, which was pathologically confirmed. The most common symptom was nasal obstruction (12/37.5%), followed by recurrent epistaxis (7/21.9%). The most common involving site was anterior nasal septum (17/53.1%), followed by nasal vestibule (7/18.8%) and inferior turbinate (4/12.5%). The most common pathology was squamous papilloma (12/37.5%), followed by lobular capillary hemangioma (7/21.9%). The provisional diagnosis was easily made by nasal endoscopy in 19 (59.4%) patients with typical endoscopic features, especially squamous papilloma, lobular capillary hemangioma, and verruca vulgaris.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should keep in mind that benign tumors of the nasal cavity are included in the differential diagnosis of unilateral nonspecific nasal symptoms such as nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Also, clinicians should be familiar with the endoscopic findings of various benign tumors and perform the diagnostic approaches with the provisional diagnosis on the basis of those findings.