Preliminary experience on endoscopic endonasal management of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility and related aspects on endoscopic endonasal management of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective data analysis was performed on 3 cases in which the endoscopic endonasal approach was used to manage this lesion between 2011 and 2014. Case information including radiological data, surgical technique, symptoms, and complications was reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The main clinical manifestations in these 3 patients were tinnitus, hearing loss at the hearing threshold of 40-50 dBHL. After operation, all 3 patients showed disappearance of their tinnitus and improvement of the hearing threshold of 10-30 dBHL (follow-up 6-45 months). Permanent drainage route was performed in 1 case which communicated with sphenoid sinus. While the other 2 cases which drained to pharyngeal recess resulted in drainage route blocking within the 3-6 months after surgery, but without obvious symptoms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This procedure for the drainage of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma showed to be effective, safe and minimally invasive. Although there is no recurrence in short-term, however, long-term surveillance and large case series are necessary, especially to the maitainence of permanent drainage.</p>