Endonasal endoscopic approach for removal of intranasal nasal glial heterotopias.

Nasal Glial Heterotopias also called Nasal Gliomas (NG) are rare congenital tumours of the midline frontonasal space arising from a normal neurectodermal tissue entrapped during the closure of the anterior neuropore. Historically, such tumours were approached using a frontal craniotomy. The study aims to evaluate a fully endonasal endoscopic approach for intranasal NG removal. We report a retrospective study of intranasal and mixed NG treated using endonasal endoscopic techniques and computer assisted navigation system from 1997 to 2010 in two tertiary referral centres of Paediatric Otolaryngology. All tumours were investigated using two imaging modalities: craniofacial MRI and CT-scan. Fifteen patients were included (0 to 14 years of age). All tumours were totally removed and no recurrence was observed after a mean follow-up of 32 months. A skull base plasty was done in 13 cases to cover a bony defect or to treat a cerebrospinal leak. Nasal packing was usually removed 24 hours after surgery and all children were discharged home after 2 to 4 days. Removal of intranasal NGs using an endonasal endoscopic approach and a dedicated computer assisted navigation system is a safe and efficient procedure. Early management is recommended to treat neonatal airway obstruction.