Evaluation and management of antrochoanal polyps in children

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Antrochoanal polyps (ACP) were originally reported by Gustav Killian in 1906. Antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) are benign polypoid lesions that begin in the maxillary antrum and extend into the choana. Although there have been recorded occurrences of bilateral ACPs in the literature, ACPs are mostly unilateral. They typically have an impact on youth and youngsters. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In a trial of 15 cases treated and admitted to our ENT Pediatric Department at the Emergency County Hospital Timisoara over the previous four years, the pathology, differential diagnosis, treatment, complications, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, positive and differential diagnosis, preoperative evaluation, pathology, and treatment of ACPs were reviewed in this study. RESULTS. The patients age group comprised five females (33.33%) and ten boys (66.67%), ranging in age from 7 to 16 years. The most common presenting symptoms were unilateral nasal obstruction (100%), purulent rhinorrhea (66.67%), olfactory impairment (53.33%), and mouth breathing (46.67%). A nasal endoscopy and a craniofacial CT scan were the gold standards for diagnosing ACP. The chosen course of treatment for all pediatric patients included in the study was surgery: 12 patients (80%) underwent transnasal endoscopic polypectomy, and 3 patients (20%) underwent both transnasal polypectomy and transcanine fossa approach. The success rate of the combined endoscopic and transcanine fossa approach was 100%, whereas the transnasal endoscopic surgery (polypectomy) had an 80% success rate. CONCLUSION. Polypectomy combined with a transcanine fossa approach technique and transnasal polypectomy is the optimal course of treatment.