[Modified intranasal endoscopic Lothrop procedure].

OBJECTIVE

To report the experience of modified endoscopic Lothrop procedure (MELP) in 6 cases and to discuss the operative technique and indications.

METHODS

Six patients (four males and 2 females) aged from 6 to 63 years old with frontal sinus diseases were enrolled in this study, including 3 cases of frontal mucocele, 1 case of recurrent hemangioma, 1 case of recurrent inverted papilloma and 1 case of osteoma. All patients were underwent intranasal modified Lothrop procedure with the guidance of nasal endoscope. The image-guided navigational system was used for the location of frontal sinus in 2 cases.

RESULTS

The operation was successful in all 6 patients without any operative and postoperative complications. The average operation time was 3.2 h. The endoscopic examination demonstrated the wide communicational frontal sinus openings and well epithelization after 6-40 months follow-up. The patients were asymptomatic up to now and no recurrence was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified intranasal endoscopic Lothrop procedure is an ideal surgical approach for recalcitrant frontal sinus disorders on the basis of proper selection of surgical equipments and patients by the experienced surgeon.