ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Antrochoanal polyp usually appears as a large, soft, gelatinous mass in the nasopharynx. Most incidents of antrochoanal polyp arise from mucosa around the natural ostium of the maxillary sinus. Surgical methods employed in the treatment of antrochoanal polyp are simple avulsion, Caldwell-Luc's operation, osteoplastic maxillary sinus operation, inferior meatal antrostomy, as well as endoscopic removal. Simple avulsion has been known to accompany a high recurrence rate, whereas the incidence of recurrence has been reported to be lower for endoscopic sinus surgery. In this regard, we compared postoperative results of simple avulsion or Caldwell Luc's operation with endoscopic sinus surgery in treating antrochoanal polyp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 42 patients who were treated for antrochoanal polyp from April 1991 until April 1996 by analyzing their clinical features, radiologic findings, postoperative results, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Simple avulsion method was used to treat 21 cases (50%), and endoscopic sinus surgery method was used to treat another 21 cases (50.0%, three cases were combined with Caldwell-Luc's operation). Among those who received simple avulsion treatment, 9 showed recurrence, whereas none of those who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and were treated successfully showed recurrence. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that endoscopic sinus surgery is a successful surgical method for treating antrochoanal polyp.