[Endoscopic, endonasal removal of inverted papillomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses].

Fifty-one patients with inverted papillomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses underwent surgery, 35 by an intranasal endoscopic method and 16 by an extranasal approach. The recurrence rate after endoscopy surgery was 17% (6/35), compared with 19% (3/16) after an external approach. Endoscopic surgery proved to be successful even in large lesions affecting the posterior ethmoid, the sphenoid sinus, or the nasofrontal duct. Therefore, its use does not need to be restricted to limited lesions of the anterior nasal cavity. After intranasal surgery patients with inverted papillomas have a better chance of retaining the bony framework with recovery of the respiratory and olfactory function.