ORIGINAL ARTICLE RESULTS OF ENDOSCOPIC RESECTION FOLLOWED BY RADIOTHERAPY FOR PRIMARILY DIAGNOSED

Abstract: Background. Adenocarcinoma is the most fre-quent histological subtype of paranasal sinus malignancy diag-nosed in Belgium. Classical treatment consists of an external surgical approach (lateral rhinotomy with medial maxillectomy or craniofacial resection) followed by radiotherapy. The role, possi-bilities, and limitations of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are to date unknown. Methods. We studied 44 patients with primary (not treated previously) adenocarcinoma treated with endoscopic sinus sur-gery and radiotherapy between 1992 and 2004. Results. The median follow-up of the patients alive at the end of the study period was 36 months. For the 3-year follow-up, the overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local control rate were 81%, 91%, and 73%, respectively. Corresponding rates for the 5-year follow-up were 53%, 83%, and 62%. Union Inter-nationale Contre le Cancer T classification did not appear to influence these results. Conclusions. Endoscopic sinus surgery followed by radio-therapy for primary adenocarcinoma of the paranasal sinuses gives oncological results comparable to those of standard exter