Surgical outcomes of overlapping lateral pharyngoplasty with or without coblator tongue base resection for obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Considerable number of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) failed to respond to positive airway pressure therapy and so turned to surgical procedures. A wide variety of surgical procedures have been developed and advanced, according to obstruction and target site through nasal cavity to trachea. We introduced our overlapping lateral pharyngoplasty (OLP) technique as a surgical option for OSA and evaluated its surgical outcomes both with and without endoscope-guided coblator tongue base resection (CobTBR). METHODS: Sixty-five patients underwent either OLP alone or OLP combined with CobTBR to treat OSA at academic tertiary center. Twenty-nine patients underwent postoperative polysomnography and were divided into two groups, as an OLP group and an OLP combined CobTBR group. Various parameters from physical examinations and polysomnographic results were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Most enrolled patients improved on various polysomnographic parameters, including AHI and oxygen levels. In the OLP group, 91.7% of patients showed a surgical response and the overall success rate was 66.7%. Mean AHI improved significantly from 36.3 to 14.8. In the OLP + CobTBR group, all patients showed improvement in AHI and the surgical response rate was 100%. The overall success rate was 70.6% and mean AHI improved from 38.8 to 13.1. In both groups, various parameters such as RDI, lowest O2 saturation, mean O2 saturation, oxygen desaturation index, supine AHI, and ESS significantly improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: Our OLP technique appears to be safe and effective among OSA patients. Multi-level OLP surgery combined with CobTBR can be a good surgical strategy for patients experiencing retroglossal obstruction.

Lowest Oxyhemoglobin Saturation May Be an Independent Factor Influencing Auditory Function in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine if a correlation exists between the level of hypoxia induced by severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the level of auditory dysfunction when verifying such a relationship using polysomnography (PSG). METHODS: A retrospective review of 41 patients with severe OSAS was performed. Independent risk factors for hearing impairment included parameters of PSG, which were analyzed in two hearing groups at a level ≥ 40 decibels (dB). RESULTS: Oxyhemoglobin saturation, especially the lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation level, showed lower thresholds in the hearing impairment group than in the control group (p = 0.039 at NREM stage; p = 0.029 at REM stage; p = 0.001 at total sleep stage). After adjusting for other risk factors, the sole variable that remained significant was lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation (total; p = 0.046). In the correlation analysis, a decreasing lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation (from all subjects, n = 41) correlated with a greater mean hearing threshold (R(2) = 0.297; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation in PSG is the only variable correlated with the hearing threshold. This finding could be predictive of possible hearing alternation in patients with severe OSAS. COMMENTARY: A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 641.

Endoscope-guided coblator tongue base resection using an endoscope-holding system for obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Multilevel obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea commonly includes retroglossal obstruction. To improve surgical success rates, tongue volume reduction with posterior midline glossectomy and/or lingual tonsillectomy is widely performed. METHODS: Nasotracheal intubation was utilized, and the combined tongue procedure was performed as a final step after palatal surgery. The tongue was pulled maximally by a retraction suture and a McIVOR (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) or Davis mouth gag (Karl Storz,Tuttlingen, Germany), and a medium-length tongue blade was applied to expose the tongue base. A 70-degree rigid endoscope was fixed by the holding system and introduced into the oral cavity. Endoscope-guided coblator tongue base resection was then performed. RESULTS: The surgeon could use both hands for the surgery, enabling a more delicate resection of tongue base tissue. CONCLUSION: This technique was acceptable and can be successfully used in patients with a large tongue, in whom exposing the tongue base for surgery is difficult.

Improved outcomes after low-concentration hypochlorous acid nasal irrigation in pediatric chronic sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of low-concentration hypochlorous acid (HOCl) nasal irrigation compared to isotonic normal saline for pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized, prospective, active-controlled study. METHODS: This study investigated the effectiveness of 4 weeks of low-concentration hypochlorous irrigation by analyzing five categorized subjective symptoms and x-ray findings in pediatric patients with rhinosinusitis. Thirty-seven patients were enrolled, and 26 patients successfully completed the study. RESULTS: Total symptom scores significantly improved with both HOCl and normal saline nasal irrigation, but there was no difference between the two groups. X-ray scores also improved in both groups; improvement was much greater in the HOCl group than the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal irrigation with HOCl is an effective adjuvant treatment compared to isotonic normal saline for pediatric sinusitis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with serum IgE levels in Korean adults.

OBJECTIVE: Studies about the association between vitamin D and allergic disease and the immune-modulatory function of vitamin D have increased in the recent years. However, not enough studies have been conducted for concrete conclusion about the association vitamin D and allergy. We investigate the association between serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in Korean adults. METHODS: We used data of 1969 subjects from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Total IgE, Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)-specific IgE, and serum 25(OH)D levels were analyzed. Other variables included sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, and economic status. Adjusted regression analysis was used to examine the independent association of 25(OH)D with serum IgE levels. RESULTS: When we divided all subjects into four groups according to the serum 25(OH)D level: Q1 (lowest), Q2, Q3, and Q4 (highest), the median TIgE level increased with higher quartiles in the Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.001). Also, the prevalence of Df sensitization was highest in Q4. Serum vitamin D was positively associated with logarithmic transformed total IgE with base of 10 (LogTIgE) (coefficient (B), 0.011; 95% confidence interval, 0.001-0.021). Furthermore, a positive association between 25(OH)D and LogTIgE was found only in men with Df sensitization, but not in men without Df sensitization and women with/without Df sensitization. However, the mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in participants who were clinically diagnosed with asthma or atopic dermatitis than participants without a history of asthma or atopic dermatitis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with total IgE levels. Furthermore, the association between serum 25(OH)D and total IgE levels could vary depending on sex or allergic sensitization. But, the mean serum 25(OH)D level was lower in participants with asthma or atopic dermatitis history than participants without history of asthma or atopic dermatitis. Prospective further studies will be required to verify this discrepancy.

Tongue Volume Influences Lowest Oxygen Saturation but Not Apnea-Hypopnea Index in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify correlations between sleep apnea severity and tongue volume or posterior airway space measured via three-dimensional reconstruction of volumetric computerized tomography (CT) images in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for use in predicting OSA severity and in surgical treatment. We also assessed associations between tongue volume and Mallampati score. METHODS: Snoring/OSA male patients (n = 64) who underwent polysomnography, cephalometry, and CT scans were enrolled in this retrospective study. OSA was diagnosed when the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was greater than 5 (mild 5-14; moderate 15-29; severe>30). The patients were also categorized into the normal-mild group (n = 22) and the moderate-severe group (n = 42). Using volumetric CT images with the three-dimensional reconstruction technique, the volume of the tongue, posterior airway space volume, and intra-mandibular space were measured. The volumes, polysomnographic parameters, and physical examination findings were compared, and independent factors that are related to OSA were analysed. RESULTS: No associations between tongue volume or posterior airway space and the AHI were observed. However, multivariate linear analyses showed that tongue volume had significantly negative association with lowest O2 saturation (r = 0.365, p = 0.027). High BMI was related to an increase in tongue volume. Modified Mallampati scores showed borderline significant positive correlations with absolute tongue volume (r = 0.251, p = 0.046) and standardized tongue volume (absolute tongue volume / intramandibular area; r = 0.266, p = 0.034). Between the normal-mild and moderate-severe groups, absolute tongue volumes were not different, although the standardized tongue volume in the moderate-severe group was significantly higher. CONCLUSION: Absolute tongue volume showed stronger associations with lowest O2 saturation during sleep than with the severity of AHI. We also found that high BMI was a relevant factor for an increase in absolute tongue volume and modified Mallampati grading was a useful physical examination to predict tongue size.

Clinical Features of Obstructive Sleep Apnea That Determine Its High Prevalence in Resistant Hypertension.

PURPOSE: Resistant hypertension (HTN) occurs in 15-20% of treated hypertensive patients, and 70-80% of resistant hypertensive patients have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The characteristics of resistant HTN that predispose patients to OSA have not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to determine the clinical, laboratory, and polysomnographic features of resistant HTN that are significantly associated with OSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hypertensive patients (n=475) who underwent portable polysomnography were enrolled. The patients were categorized into controlled (n=410) and resistant HTN (n=65) groups. The risk factors for the occurrence of OSA in controlled and resistant hypertensive patients were compared, and independent risk factors that are associated with OSA were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 475 patients, 359 (75.6%) were diagnosed with OSA. The prevalence of OSA in resistant HTN was 87.7%, which was significantly higher than that in controlled HTN (73.7%). Age, body mass index, neck circumference, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly higher in OSA. However, stepwise multivariate analyses revealed that resistant HTN was not an independent risk factor of OSA. CONCLUSION: The higher prevalence and severity of OSA in resistant HTN may be due to the association of risk factors that are common to both conditions.

Von-Willebrand disease presenting as intractable epistaxis after nasal polypectomy.

Von-Willebrand disease (VWD) is one of the platelet dysfunction disorders that results from a deficiency of Von-Willebrand factor, which is essential for hemostasis. VWD patients typically have normal laboratory results on screening for bleeding disorders. To suspect and diagnose VWD, a careful review of past medical history and laboratory tests is critical. A 59-year-old male patient presented with intractable nasal bleeding after nasal polypectomy. The bleeding was controlled by platelet transfusion, and he was later diagnosed with VWD.

Neck circumference and lowest oxygen saturation are independently associated with high coexistence of hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered an independent risk factor for hypertension. However, it is still not clear which clinical factors are related with the presence of hypertension in OSA patients. We aimed to find different physical features and compare the sleep study results which are associated with the occurrence of hypertension in OSA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients diagnosed with OSA at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital between 2010 and 2013. Males with moderate to severe OSA patients were enrolled in this study. Clinical and polysomnographic features were evaluated to assess clinical variables that are significantly associated with hypertension by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among men with moderate to severe OSA, age was negatively correlated with hypertension (odds ratio=0.956), while neck circumference was positively correlated with the presence of hypertension (odds ratio=1.363). Among the polysomnographic results, the lowest O2 saturation during sleep was significantly associated with the presence of hypertension (odds ratio=0.900). CONCLUSION: Age and neck circumference should be considered as clinically significant features, and the lowest blood O2 saturation during sleep should be emphasized in predicting the coexistence or development of hypertension in OSA patients.

Treatment outcomes of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: 30 cases from a single institution.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical features and prognostic factors of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with histopathological diagnosis of sinonasal ACC who were treated at Severance Hospital between 1990 and 2010 were included in this retrospective chart review study. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-specific survival and disease-free survival rates were 75.3% and 37.2%, respectively. The maxillary sinus (63.3%) and nasal cavity (23.3%) were the most common sites of primary tumour. Most patients were diagnosed with advanced-stage (III/IV) disease (80.0%) and had undergone surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (70.0%). The most common histopathological subtype was cribriform type (40.9%). Local recurrence rate and distant metastasis rates were 26.7% and 23.3%, respectively. The mean time from primary treatment to recurrence was 44.5 months. Sinonasal ACC patients with stage IV and T4 disease had significantly worse survival than those with low stage and T disease. Patients with local recurrence had worse disease-specific survival than those with distant recurrence. Distant metastasis was associated with disease-free survival but not disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent occurrence of distant metastasis, early diagnosis and effective local control seemed to be the most important factors influencing the survival of sinonasal ACC.

The dimension of hyoid bone is independently associated with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that the size of the hyoid bone itself may affect the severity of sleep apnea. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between hyoid bone dimensions and the severity of sleep apnea using computerized tomography (CT) axial images. METHODS: We retrospectively measured the hyoid bone in axial images of neck CTs and correlated these measurements with results of polysomnography in a total of 106 male patients. The new hyoid bone parameters studied in this study were as follows: distance between bilateral lesser horns (LH-d), distance between bilateral greater horns (GH-d), distance from the most anterior end of the hyoid arch to GH-d (AP), distance from the greater to the lesser horn on right and left sides (GH-LH), and the anterior angle between bilateral extensive lines from the greater to the lesser horn (H-angle). Data was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: We found a significant inverse correlation between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and GH-d or AP. Neither the LH-d, GH-LH, nor H-angle were associated with the AHI. The patient group that met the criteria of both GH-d<45.4 and AP<33.4 demonstrated the most severe AHI. CONCLUSION: The lateral width or antero-posterior length of hyoid bone was associated with AHI and predicted the severity of sleep apnea in male patients. This finding supports the role of expansion hyoidplasty for treatment of sleep apnea. Pre-operative consideration of these parameters may improve surgical outcomes in male patients with sleep apnea.

A rare case of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma in the nasal cavity.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) is an extremely rare neoplasm that mainly arises from the lymphoid tissues of the immune system. Although this neoplasm typically occurs anywhere along the lymph nodes, it can also be found at extranodal sites, especially in the head and neck. We experienced a rare case of extranodal IDCS in the nasal cavity, a location that has not been previously reported. A 73-year-old woman presented with a polyp-like mass in the nasal cavity and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. A histologic study confirmed the mass as IDCS by immunohistochemistry with S-100 antibody, and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was administered. Although the incidence is extremely rare, this case suggests that extranodal IDCS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nasal cavity masses.

The feasibility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography uptake as a prognostic factor for paranasal sinus malignancy.

BACKGROUND: There is a correlation between (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and the level of intracellular metabolic tumor activity, which in turn may be associated with active proliferation, invasion, and prognosis as well as distant metastases in head and neck cancer. This study was designed to assess whether tumor uptake of FDG positron emission tomography (PET) expressed as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) can be used to predict survival in subjects with paranasal sinus malignancy. METHODS: We enrolled 42 consecutive subjects with a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in paranasal sinus malignancy, into a retrospective institutional imaging trial. Thirty-eight subjects (90.5%) underwent a baseline FDG-PET scan before curative treatment and were eligible for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 38 subjects with paranasal sinus malignancy undergoing PET/computed tomography imaging in the initial stages were assessed separately for a potential correlation between SUVmax and T staging, histological grading, and overall survival. Log-rank testing revealed a significant correlation between overall survival and histological grading (p = 0.046); and there was some correlation between SUVmax and histological grading, but not significantly different. The receiver operation characteristic curve was identified for cutoff value of SUVmax as a prognostic factor. We compared the low tumor of the SUVmax group with the high tumor of the SUVmax group divided by the cutoff value of SUVmax. We did find a significant correlation between SUVmax and disease control and mortality (p = 0.003, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In our study, we concluded that subjects with higher tumor FDG uptakes should be considered for a more aggressive disease.

Sinonasal carcinoma associated with inverted papilloma: a report of 16 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the characteristics and outcome of patients with carcinoma associated with inverted papilloma, and find predictors of associated malignancy. METHODS: The medical records of 228 patients who were diagnosed with IP between January 1990 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Out of 228 patients, 16 were also diagnosed with carcinoma. We evaluated their clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes. RESULTS: The incidence of carcinoma associated with IP was 7.0%. Fourteen were synchronous carcinomas and two were metachronous. Tumours arising inside the frontal sinus or the frontoethmoidal recess were more likely to be associated with carcinoma. Patients who had a stage of T2 or less had a much better outcome than those who had a stage of T3 or greater (disease-free period, 84.8 months vs. 5.7 months, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumours originating in the frontal sinus or frontoethmoidal recess have a tendency to be associated with carcinoma. As most (87.5%) of the carcinomas were diagnosed at the same time as the inverted papilloma, complete histological examination of the whole excised tumour is warranted because early diagnosis and treatment is essential as T2 and lower stage carcinomas had a strikingly better prognosis than T3 and higher stage carcinomas.

Protease-activated receptor 2-dependent fluid secretion from airway submucosal glands by house dust mite extract.

BACKGROUND: The submucosal gland (SMG) is important in the control of airway surface fluid. Protease-activated receptor (PAR) 2 contributes to the pathophysiology of allergies in response to nonspecific allergens bearing proteases and anion secretion. House dust mites (HDMs) have abundant proteases that can activate PAR2, but little is known about the direct effect of HDM on SMG secretion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HDMs on glandular secretion and its mechanism in allergic patients, patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), or both. METHODS: Inferior nasal turbinates were harvested from 55 patients and classified into 4 groups (the control, allergic rhinitis [AR], CRS, and AR+CRS groups). A microscope attached to a digital camera was used to quantify mucus bubbles from individual SMGs while stimulated with HDM extract, PAR2-activating peptide, and carbachol. PAR2 expression in the SMG was determined by means of immunostaining with anti-PAR2 mAb. RESULTS: HDM induced a significantly higher secretion rate and number of responding glands in the AR and AR+CRS groups than in the control group. Interestingly, patients in the CRS group, who had no HDM-specific IgE antibody, showed a higher response than the control group, and its response was suppressed by a PAR2-selective antagonist. The responses to PAR2-activating peptide were similar to those to HDM, and their secretion rates positively correlated with HDM responses. PAR2 was highly expressed in all 3 disease groups with immunostaining. CONCLUSIONS: HDM allergens can induce glandular secretion in patients with AR, CRS, or both, and PAR2 represents a possible mechanism for nonspecific hyperreactivity in inflammatory airway diseases.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations: a 17-year review of 96 cases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations with a focus on optic neuropathy. METHODS: From January 1993 to May 2010, 96 consecutive patients diagnosed with paranasal sinus mucoceles with ophthalmologic manifestations were investigated. Clinical and therapeutic factors and demographics were reviewed from medical records. Statistical associations between clinical and therapeutic factors and visual outcomes after surgery were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients were diagnosed with paranasal sinus mucoceles and underwent surgical treatment. Ninety-six of them presented with ophthalmologic symptoms, and periorbital swelling and pain were the most common symptoms (36.4%) in those patients. Among the 96 patients with ophthalmologic manifestations, 18 (18.8%) were diagnosed with optic neuropathy based on the deterioration of their visual acuity and unilateral relative afferent papillary defect. Ten of these 18 patients showed improvements in their vision after surgical intervention. The statistical analysis of the association between clinical and therapeutic factors and visual outcomes showed that the presence of infection was the only significant factor (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Paranasal sinus mucoceles present various ophthalmologic manifestations. Among them, optic neuropathy may be one of the most devastating conditions. In treating optic neuropathy caused by mucoceles, the presence of infection was the only factor that had any influence on postoperative visual outcomes. Therefore, we conclude that not only surgical drainage and ventilation of the sinus are necessary, but infection control is also a vital factor in treating mucoceles with optic neuropathy.

Radiologic characteristics of sinonasal fungus ball: an analysis of 119 cases.

BACKGROUND: It is important to differentiate sinonasal fungus ball from non-fungal sinusitis and other forms of fungal sinusitis in order to determine the optimal treatment. In particular, a sinonasal fungus ball, a non-invasive fungal sinusitis, can be characterized by radiologic findings before surgery. PURPOSE: To differentiate a sinonasal fungus ball from other types of sinusitis and determine optimal treatment on the basis of radiologic findings before surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 119 patients with clinically and pathologically proven sinonasal fungus balls. Their condition was evaluated radiologically with contrast-enhanced CT (99 patients), non-contrast CT (18 patients) and/or MRI (17 patients) prior to sinonasal surgery. RESULTS: Calcifications were found in 78 of 116 (67.2%) patients who underwent CT scans for fungus ball. As opposed to non-contrast CT scans, contrast CT scans revealed hyperattenuating fungal ball in 82.8% and enhanced inflamed mucosa in 65.5% of the patients, respectively. On MRI, most sinonasal fungal balls showed iso- or hypointensity on T1-weighted images and marked hypointensity on T2-weighted images. Inflamed mucosal membranes were noted and appeared as hypointense on T1-weighted images (64.7%) and hyperintense on T2-weighted images (88.2%). CONCLUSION: When there are no calcifications visible on the CT scan, a hyperattenuating fungal ball located in the central area of the sinus with mucosal thickening on enhanced CT scans is an important feature of a non-invasive sinonasal fungus ball. On MRI, a sinonasal fungus ball has typical features of a marked hypointense fungus ball with a hyperintense mucosal membrane in T2-weighted images. A contrast-enhanced CT scan or MRI provides sufficient information for the preoperative differentiation of a sinonasal fungus ball from other forms of sinusitis.

Crosstalk between platelet-derived growth factor-induced Nox4 activation and MUC8 gene overexpression in human airway epithelial cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to chronic airway inflammation, and NADPH oxidase (Nox) is an important source of ROS. However, little is known of the role that ROS play in chronic upper respiratory tract inflammation. We investigated the mechanism of ROS generation and its association with mucin gene overexpression in the nasal epithelium. The level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) expression was increased in sinusitis mucosa, and high-level PDGF expression induced intracellular ROS, followed by MUC8 gene overexpression in normal human nasal epithelial cells. Knockdown of Nox4 expression with Nox4 siRNA decreased PDGF-induced intracellular ROS and MUC8 expression. Infection with an adenovirus containing Nox4 cDNA resulted in Nox4 overexpression and increased intracellular levels of ROS and MUC8 expression. PDGF and Nox4 overexpression are essential components of intracellular ROS generation and may contribute to chronic inflammation in the nasal epithelium through induction of MUC8 overexpression.

A modified midfacial degloving approach for the treatment of unilateral paranasal sinus tumours.

PURPOSE: The midfacial degloving approach (MFDA) is the primary option for the removal of benign and malignant sinonasal tumours. However, the classic MFDA does not compensate for the fact that most benign and malignant paranasal sinus (PNS) tumours are unilateral and the incisions may lead to some unnecessary complications?. Surgical exposure is limited to the upper and deep part of the PNS. Modifications of the classical MFDA that minimize complications and improve surgical field exposure are warranted. PATIENTS: The medical records of 27 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery using a modified MFDA for treatment of unilateral benign or malignant tumours from 2000 to 2006, were reviewed. RESULTS: We developed and performed a modified MFDA utilizing a hemigingivobuccal incision, a transfixion incision, mucosal detachment of the pyriform aperture and separation of the upper lateral cartilage from the nasal bone in 27 patients with unilateral benign (85%) or malignant (15%) PNS neoplasms. Adequate surgical exposure was achieved in all cases. No technical problems and no intraoperative complications related to the surgical procedure were encountered. CONCLUSION: Our modified MFDA provides sufficient surgical exposure for the removal of unilateral malignant or benign PNS tumours with few surgical or cosmetic complications.