Endoscopic endonasal removal of median palatine cyst.

Endoscopic endonasal removal of median palatine cyst.

PROBLEM: A 49-year-old man presented with a median palatine cyst, as an incidental finding in a work-up of vision disturbance, due to a cyst in the sphenoid sinus.

METHODOLOGY: The median palatine cyst was removed with a diode laser in the contact mode under endoscopic vision; forceps were used to remove the sphenoid sinus cyst.

RESULTS: Follow-up over 6 months showed authentic absence of left eye vision impairment, no signs of recurrence of the median palatine cyst, and no acute inflammation in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinus area.

CONCLUSIONS: A median palatine cyst is mostly asymptomatic and painless at palpation. However, its structure, with chronic inflammation and detritus, can be regarded as a focus of chronic infection. Surgery is the only effective method of treatment, and relapse after surgery is rare.