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From the first days of life, a female newborn suffered from nasal congestion and a runny nose. The first MRI, at 42 days of life, revealed a solid and expansive mass of 1 cm in the left nasal fossa. The radiological examination repeated at 4 months of life showed an increase in volume, up to 2 cm (

Objectives The aim of this article was to describe the surgical technique and report the oncological and functional outcomes of the partial glottic-subglottic laryngectomy (GSL). Methods A retrospective review of the clinical charts of patients who underwent GSL for laryngeal cancer from 1989 to 2020 at the Otolaryngology Unit of the Vittorio Veneto Hospital, a referral center for laryngeal cancer treatment. Results The present article considered 36 patients who were submitted to GSL for laryngeal cancer. The pathological exam found squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 16 cases, adenoid-cystic carcinoma (ACC) in 9 cases, laryngeal chondrosarcoma in 8 cases, 1 giant cell carcinoma, 1 carcinosarcoma, and 1 metastasis of colon adenocarcinoma. Considering the 16 SCC cases we observed a recurrence rate of 31%, the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 75%. The 9 ACC cases had a recurrence rate of 23% and OS/DSS of 88%. In the 8 chondrosarcomas no relapses were reported and the OS/DSS were 100%. Among the patients without recurrence of the disease, a definitive decannulation was achieved in 21 cases (75%). Conclusions The GSL represents a valid alternative to total laryngectomy in selected cases of laryngeal cancer involving the glottic and subglottic regions.

The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to the sella and parasellar regions is now increasingly used for removal of a variety of lesions localized in the ventral skull base. The advantage of the endoscope is enhanced visualization and improved panoramic view that can result in more complete removal of the tumor. An extensive knowledge of the anatomy is mandatory to approach this region.From February 2009 to March 2020, the endoscopic endonasal approach was used in 153 patients with sellar and parasellar lesions, at our Institution: 136 pituitary adenomas, 7 craniopharyngiomas, 3 Rathke's cysts, a tuberculum sellae meningioma, an aneurysm of the internal carotid artery (ICA), a clivus chordoma, a papillary glioneuronal tumor, an histiocytosis, a pituitary metastasis from breast cancer and a chondrosarcoma.The most common surgical complications were cerebral spinal fluid leak (9), bleeding (2), pituitary abscess (2). Among endocrinological complications, the most important were diabete insipidus (23) and panhypopituitarism (3). Two patients complicated with meningitis. There were no visual worsening and no operative mortality. We had persistence of disease in 20 cases. Twelve patients underwent surgical revision for recurrence of the disease.Pre-operative planning and collaboration with several specialists are necessary in order to offer the patient the best treatment, minimizing complications.Lesioni della regione sellare e parasellare: gestione multidisciplinare.Introduzione: L’approccio endoscopico endonasale trans-naso-sfenoidale alla sella e alla regione parasellare è a oggi l’approccio più utilizzato per lesioni localizzate nella parte ventrale della base cranica. Il vantaggio di questa tecnica consiste in una miglior visualizzazione panoramica del sito chirurgico che consente una rimozione quanto più completa del tumore. Un’approfondita conoscenza dell’anatomia è d’obbligo per iniziare ad approcciare questa regione.Da febbraio 2009 a marzo 2020, abbiamo trattato nel nostro Istituto 153 pazienti con lesioni sellari e parassellari mediante approccio endoscopico endonasale; di questi 136 erano adenomi dell’ipofisi, 7 craniofaringiomi, 3 cisti di Rathke, un meningioma del tubercolo sellae, un aneurisma dell’arteria carotide interna, un cordoma del clivus, un tumore glioneuronale papillare, un’istiocitosi, una metastasi pituitaria da cancro al seno e un condrosarcoma.Le complicanze chirurgiche più comuni sono state la rinoliquorrea (9), il sanguinamento (2), l’ascesso pituitarico (2). Tra le complicanze endocrinologiche, le più importanti sono state il diabete insipido (23) e il panipopituitarismo (3). Due pazienti si sono complicati con meningite. Non ci sono stati deficit visivi né mortalità intraoperatoria. Abbiamo avuto persistenza di malattia in 20 casi. Dodici pazienti sono stati sottoposti a reintervento per recidiva.Un’adeguata pianificazione preoperatoria e la collaborazione tra diversi specialisti sono necessarie per offrire al paziente il miglior trattamento possibile, riducendo al minimo le complicanze.

While the so-called pseudoaneurysms can result from arterial injury during trans-sphenoidal surgery or after a trauma, spontaneous aneurysms of cavernous–internal carotid artery (CICA) are rare. Symptoms vary and the differential diagnosis with other, more frequent, sellar lesions is difficult. We describe three cases of misdiagnosed CICA spontaneous aneurysm. In two cases the onset was with neuro-ophthalmological manifestations, classifiable as “cavernous sinus syndrome.” The emergency computed tomography scan did not show CICA aneurysm and the diagnosis was made by surgical exploration. The third patient came to our attention with a sudden severe unilateral epistaxis; endonasal surgery revealed also in this case a CICA aneurysm, eroding the wall and protruding into the sphenoidal sinus. When the onset was with a cavernous sinus syndrome, misdiagnosis exposed two patients to potential serious risk of bleeding, while the patient with epistaxis was treated with embolization, using coils and two balloons. Intracavernous nontraumatic aneurysms are both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, because of their heterogeneous onset and risk of rupture, potentially lethal. Intracavernous aneurysms can be managed with radiological follow-up, if asymptomatic or clinically stable, or can be surgically treated with endovascular or microsurgical techniques.

Bilateral choanal atresia (CA) is a rare congenital malformation frequently associated with other anomalies. CHARGE association is closely linked to bilateral CA. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of the endoscopic repair in bilateral CA, and to assess the role of postoperative nasal stenting in two cohorts of CHARGE-associated and non-syndromic CA. Thirty-nine children were retrospectively analyzed (16 patients had CHARGE-associated CA). The rate of postoperative neochoanal restenosis was 31.3% in the CHARGE population, and 47.8% in the non-syndromic CA cohort. Data on postoperative synechiae and granulation tissue formation, need for endonasal toilette and dilation procedures, and number of procedures per patient were presented. Stent positioning led to a higher number of postoperative dilation procedures per patient in the non-syndromic cohort (p = 0.018), and to a higher rate of restenosis both in the CHARGE-associated, and non-syndromic CA populations. Children with CHARGE-associated and non-syndromic bilateral CA benefitted from endonasal endoscopic CA correction. The postoperative application of an endonasal stent should be carefully evaluated.

Orbital metastases represent a rare condition and only 33 cases of metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), usually revealed by slowly progressive exophthalmos, have been described in the literature. A 62-year-old man affected by HCC reported a sudden left exophthalmos and amaurosis. A cranial CT scan revealed pathological tissue occupying the superior portion of the orbit. During endoscopic decompression of the optic nerve, an active venous intraorbital haemorrhage was noted. Following angiography, permanent occlusion was performed on a neoforming circulus fed by ramification of the anterior deep temporal artery, anterior ramification of the superficial temporal artery and sphenoidal ramification of the medial meningeal artery. A percutaneous incisional orbital biopsy showed features of metastatic foci of HCC. This is the first description of orbital metastasis from HCC revealed by a sudden exophthalmos.

An 80-year-old man referred with repeated episode of dacryocystitis from the left lacrimal drainage system and palpable swelling. For many years, he has being presented with epiphora unilaterally with chronic dacryocystitis. Investigations with dye-test revealed subocclusion of the natural passage of the tears, and CT and MRI scans revealed solid mass in the lacrimal sac. The lacrimal sac was opened by endonasal endoscopic approach, the sacral mass was identified and completely removed. The histopathological examination showed lacrimal gland in ectopic position. Patient followed for 18 months with complete recovery of symptoms. In our differential diagnosis, the ectopic lacrimal gland is also identified, when a mass in the lacrimal sac and duct is present. Successful surgical excision required considerable multidisciplinary teamwork between ophtalmologist–ENT (Otolaryngologist) and radiologist. Endonasal endoscopic approach is perfectly safe with direct control and ensures a smooth postoperative recovery.