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.