[Ethmoid tumors. Experience of the otorhinolaryngologic clinic of the University Hospital Center of Dakar, 20 cases].

24 cases of ethmoid tumors collected between January 1st, 1990 and June 30th, 1996 were reported. The analysis of epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects showed the following elements: the average age was 25 years with an equal repartition between men and women, a delay in consultation with an average of 2 years, 41.7% of patients consulted mostly for non rhinological signs, on the therapeutic aspect, surgery was performed on 95.8% of the patients with ethmoidectomy by external way. In 50% of cases, the removal was extended to one or many sinuses, 61.2% of tumors were benign to the histological analysis, one patient died immediately after operations. In the short run, we observed 2 cases of persistence of the carcinoma. In the long run, a recurrence of mucocele was noticed. Because of late consultation, limits of preoperative assessment notably for radiology, therapeutic approach is difficult, the improvement of technical infrastructures, the use of scanner in particular, should allow a better codification of the therapeutic indications.