Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-Up of Sinonasal Leiomyomas: A Systematic Review

Leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle tumors that are rarely diagnosed in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

This systematic review summarizes the histopathologic and clinical tumor characteristics, surgical management, and follow-up of sinonasal leiomyomas.

A systematic review of the literature on sinonasal leiomyoma was performed by applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for level of evidence. Patient demographics, clinical and pathological tumor characteristics, primary intervention, and results of follow-up were evaluated.

Forty studies including 84 patients with sinonasal leiomyoma were identified. The tumor was most often located in the nasal cavity (47/84, 56%) originating from the inferior turbinate (32/84, 38%). Patients mostly presented with symptoms originating from an intranasal mass, including recurrent epistaxis (41/84, 49%), nasal obstruction (43/84, 51.2%), and localized facial or head pain (25/84, 29.8%). Surgery was performed in all cases. An endoscopic approach was most frequently chosen. Recurrence occurred only twice (2.4%). Morbidity was noted in 2 cases (2.4%) following postoperative bleeding and 1 (1.2%) case following a CSF leak.

Sinonasal leiomyomas are neoplasms of the smooth muscle manifesting clinically with recurrent epistaxis and nasal obstruction. Management goal is total resection with clear margins to avoid local recurrence.