CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO INFLAMMATORY NASOFRONTAL DUCT DISEASE

Endoscopic data reveal that mucosal disease frequently recurs followin g the surgical treatment of chronic diffuse hyperplastic frontal sinus and nasofrontal duct disease. However, this group of patients often r emains asymptomatic. We present 40 patients who underwent endoscopic s inus surgery with a 4-year mean follow-up. Postoperative endoscopy rev ealed mucosal disease within the frontal recess in 39 of the 40 (97.5% ) patients; however, only 3 of the 40 (7.5%) were symptomatic. Of thes e 3 patients, 1 underwent revision surgery. Historical information dem onstrates the potential for significant nasofrontal duct stenosis asso ciated with such revision surgery. On the basis of our initial results , endoscopic observation and medical therapy seem to be successful in controlling the symptoms associated with this disease process.