ABSTRACT
The presence of a mass in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses may seem to be simple problem, but it is very difficult to differentiate clinically from potentially malignant tumors. To evaluate the clinical presentation and histopathological features of the non malignant lesions of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Prospective descriptive study. Study was carried out in departments of Paediatrics and ENT at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Hospital Sukkur from Jan 2009 to Dec 2012. The study included all cases of nonmalignant masses of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, those attended the Paediatric and ENT department and underwent the surgical intervention. One hundred twenty non-malignant cases were enrolled for this study. A separate pro-forma was filled to record the cases biodata, history, clinical examination, investigations and histopathological diagnosis. All histopathologically proven malignant masses were excluded from the study. Out of 120 cases 78 [65%] were males and 42 [35%] were females, with M:F ratio of 1.8:1. The age of presentation ranged from 8 years to 70 years and mean age was 26.3years. Sinonasal masses were found to be bilateral in 20 cases [16.67%], right sided in 65 [54.17%] and left sided in 35 [29.16%] cases. The main presenting symptoms were nasal blockage 110 [91.66%], nasal discharge 102 [85%], sneezing 60 [50%], hypoinsomnia 36 [30%], epistaxis 24 [20%], headache 20 [18.33%] and mouth breathing 18 [15%] cases. Polyp was the most common lesion in 86 [71.66%] cases observed in this study. The common histopathological diagnosis was simple inflammatory nasal polyp in 48 [40%], allergic nasal polyps 30 [25%] and fibroepithelial polyp in 8 [6.7%], inverted papilloma in 12 [10%], angiofibroma 6 [5%], capillary hemangioma 4 [3.34%] and rhinosporidiosis 4 [3.34%] cases. Sinonasal masses have various differential diagnoses and are still thought to be simple problem in our society. There is a need for early recognition and referral to ENT surgeon and need histopathological examination of every mass to confirm the diagnosis