Benign Nasosinus Tumors: Epidemiological, Clinical, Morphological, Therapeutic, and Evolutionary Aspects at the Adolphe SICE General Hospital in Pointe-Noire (Congo-Brazzaville)

Introduction: Benign nasosinus tumors (BNST) of epithelial origin are relatively rare and arise from the various lining tissues of the nasal and sinus cavities, and from glands developed from these epithelial invaginations. These include nasosinusal polyps, pleiomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma. The aim of our study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, morphological, therapeutic, and evolutionary particularities of these three clinical entities, including two tumors with the potential for progressive malignancy (pleiomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma) and one strictly benign tumor with a favorable evolution (nasosinus polyp or Schneider polyp). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2019 (13 years), in the Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery at Adolphe SICE Hospital, Pointe-Noire, Congo-Brazzaville. Results: During the study period, 74 patients were registered for a nasosinus tumor, of which 23 were benign tumors of epithelial origin (31%) distributed as follows: 15 cases of nasosinus polyp, 5 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and 3 cases of inverted papilloma. The mean age was 42.5 for polyps, with an estimated median of 38, and 42.9 for the other two entities (pleomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma), with an estimated median of 41. Nasosinus allergy accounted for 17% of cases, followed by chronic sinusitis (12%); however, in 49% of cases, the patient’s history was not specified. There was no sexual predominance, the sex ratio being 1.08. Occupation, socio-economic level, and education had no impact on the development of these tumors. Most of our patients (52%, 12 cases) had a consultation delay of more than one (1) year, whatever the histological nature of the tumor. The complete nasosinus syndrome (NSS) included nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, epistaxis, and anosmia, and was found in 19 cases (83%), most often reflecting a nasosinus polyp. CT scans were performed in all patients, with hyperdense images predominating in 22 cases. Management of benign nasosinus tumors was mainly surgical. Postoperative management was straightforward in 15 cases (65%). Conclusion: Benign nasosinus tumors are dominated by nasosinus polyps. Management of these tumors is essentially surgical, with the best clinical outcome.