Management of sinonasal inverted papillomas and comparison of classification staging systems

The aim of this study was to describe treatment results in patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma and to compare recent classification staging systems.

We performed a retrospective study of 79 patients with primary paranasal sinus inverted papilloma from 1978 to 2008.

The median age at diagnosis was 59 years. There were 68 men (86%) and 11 women (14%). Sixty inverted papilloma (76%) were located in the ethmoidal sinus complex, 16 (20%) were in the maxillary sinus, 2 were in the sphenoid sinus (3%), and 1 was in the septum (1%). Malignancy was simultaneously associated in four cases (5%). Intracranial extension was found in five patients (6%) and we did not find orbital content involvement. The external approach was used in 22 cases (28%) and 57 patients were treated with endoscopic nasal resection (72%). The overall recurrence rate in the total population was 21%. Recurrences were observed in 7 cases (32%) in the group of patients who received external approach and in 10 (17%) patients in the endoscopic group. Recurrences according to the Krouse system were 0% in T1 stage, 16% in T2 stage, 25% in T3 stage, and 60% in T4 stage (p = 0.05). Recurrences for groups A, B, and C stages using the Cannady staging system were 12, 26, and 60%, respectively (p = 0.039). Recurrences according to Han's system were 19% in both T1 and T2, 20% in T3, and 60% in T4 (p > 0.05).

Our results support the endoscopic approach as the treatment of choice when feasible in patients with inverted papilloma, combined in selected cases with external approaches. The Krouse and Cannady systems provided a good distribution of patients according to local control.