[Chondromas of the paranasal sinuses]

The author describes rare chondromas of the paranasal sinuses in two female patients. In a younger woman a third relapse of chondroma in the olfactory labyrinth on the left was involved where the disease persisted for 31 years. The tumour spread to the orbit and intracranium and was therefore removed by frontal craniotomy. In the older patient the tumour grew cca 15 years. It blocked both nasal apertures and spread to all paranasal sinuses and the nasopharynx. It was removed from both sides, using the approach from right-sided lateral rhinotomy. It was not possible to locate exactly the site of origin in either patient. The tumours were benign and in the first case grew from the borderline between the ethmoid bone and the upper jaw. In the second patient most probably from the basophenoidal area. The author draws attention on the uncertain biological nature of chondromas at this site and the importance of total resection of the tumour during the first operation for the prognosis of the disease.