[Clinical and surgical aspects of cysts and fistulae of the nose in children. Apropos of 37 cases].

Thirty-seven children with nasal midline masses and/or sinus ostia were surgically treated in the pediatric ENT and cervicofacial surgery department of Trousseau children hospital in Paris, from 1974 to 1994. The patients presented with midline cysts (11 cases), sinus ostia (8 cases) or both (18 cases). Various surgical techniques were used ranging from transcolumellar approach (25 cases) to direct midline approach (8 cases) or paracanthal approach. Preoperative imagery and surgery showed in 6 patients an intracranial extension to the base of the foramen cecum, without intracranial mass. Histologic examination demonstrated 33 dermoïds, 1 lipoma, 1 hamartoma, 1 glioma ans 1 hemangioma. 2 recurrences occurred after surgery. In children, the transcolumellar approach provides an enhanced exposure with a few percentage of recurrences and good cosmetic results.