Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of unilateral endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with unilateral sinonasal symptoms clinically and radiologically, and make a clinicopathologic evaluation of unilateral sinonasal diseases.

METHODS: This retrospective study included 186 patients (118 males, 68 females; mean age 44.6±17.5 years; range 11 to 86 years) who underwent unilateral endoscopic sinus surgery in our clinic between October 2004 and December 2012. The information was obtained from the records of the patients.

RESULTS: The most common preoperative major symptom was nasal congestion which was observed in 134 patients (72%). After the operation, all complaints, particularly major complaints significantly reduced. When postoperative pathologic diagnoses were evaluated, non-neoplastic diseases were observed in most of the patients (n=140, 75.26%). Most common non-neoplastic diseases were chronic sinusitis (n=51, 27.41%) and antrochoanal polyp (n=45, 24.1%). Malign pathology was detected in only six patients (3.23%) diagnosed with neoplastic disease. Invasive fungal infection was observed in 19 patients (10.21%). In our study, the mean follow-up time of patients was 21 months (12-48 months). Full success rate was 83.6% in non-neoplastic patients and 66.6% in malign neoplastic patients. Revision surgery was performed in three non-neoplastic patients (2.1%) and in five neoplastic patients (18.5%).

CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectations, malign sinus pathologies are less frequently observed in patients with unilateral sinonasal symptoms, and can be treated successfully with endoscopic sinus surgery.