Endoscopic Endonasal Prelacrimal Approach: Radiological Considerations, Morbidity, and Outcomes

This study describes a multicentric experience with the use of prelacrimal approach (PLA), focusing on preoperative radiological parameters potentially associated with surgical outcomes and postoperative morbidity.

Retrospective case-series.

A retrospective review of patients undergoing PLA in three European referral centers was performed. The post-operative morbidity was analyzed in relation to two radiological parameters: width of prelacrimal recess (WPR) and internal angle of pyriform notch (APN).

The study included 28 patients affected by Schneiderian papilloma (20 cases), inflammatory disease (6 cases), schwannoma (1 case), and osteoma (1 case). The most reported sequela was paresthesia of ipsilateral anterior superior alveolar process (25% of the cases). An association between post-operative morbidity and APN was observed (P = .047).

Preoperative radiological evaluation of WPR is crucial in understanding the feasibility of the approach, while APN measurement may predict postoperative morbidity, which is paramount in the patients' counseling.

4 case-series Laryngoscope, 131:1715-1721, 2021.