[Management of congenital nasal fistulas and cysts].
BACKGROUND
Congenital nasal fistulas and cysts are uncommon craniofacial malformations. Mostly their symptoms appear already during childhood. In general, they are superficially located but they can reach the skull base or extend intracranially.


METHODS
Between 1979 and 2004 fifteen patients (11 children and 4 adults) with nasal fistulas and cysts were treated surgically at the ENT-Department of the Hospital Fulda gAG. In 7 patients (46.6 %) the skull base was involved. An intracranial intradural extension was found in 1 child and therefore needed a combined ENT and neurosurgical procedure. In the other 6 cases the nasal fistulas or cysts were located extradurally. They were resected by removing the Christa galli and strenghten the dura. An additional septorhinoplasty was carried out in 4 of the 15 patients. Within the follow-up period of up to 25 years no recurrences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The adequate therapy of nasal fistulas and cysts consists of complete resection. Magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are essential to diagnose intracranial extension and to choose the proper surgical approach including a potential interdisciplinary procedure.
Hilterhaus
F
F
Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenkrankheiten, Kopf-, Hals- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Kommunikationsstörungen (Direktor: Prof. Dr. W. Draf), Klinikum Fulda gAG, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Draf
W
W
Behr
R
R
Bockmühl
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010348:Patient Care Team; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed