Inverted naso-sinusal papilloma: analytic study on 13 cases

Objective: Inverted nasosinusal papilloma is a rare tumorous process involving mucosa of nasal fossa and paranasal sinus unilaterally. The authors studied inverted naso-sinusal papilloma observed and treated in ENT and Head and Neck department at Brazzaville University Hospital.

Methods: Retrospective study concerning 13 patients treated between 1988 and 2001.

Results: The average age is 34 years (range: 16 to 60 years); old nasal obstruction is the main symptom (12 cases); the diagnosis is histologic; association with Killian polyp (1 case), human papilloma virus infection (1 case) and rhinosporidiosis (1 case); large surgical removal (Caldwell-Luc, para-latero-nasal) and polypectomy associated to diathermy of tumorous insertion place permitted to have satisfactory results; the recurrencies were observed in four cases from 7 months to 10 years (average: 4 years); malignant transformation is noted in 2 cases with one case of inverted papilloma combined to Human Papilloma Virus infection.

Conclusions: All naso-sinusal polypoid should have a histological study. Patients must be followed-up regularly; this is very difficult in Africa.