Intracranial polyps in patients with Samter's triad.
BACKGROUND
We describe three patients with Samter's triad (nasal polyps, aspirin intolerance, and asthma) with skull base dehiscence in whom the polyps extended into the extradural space and also resulted in hypertelorism and widening of the nasal bridge.


METHODS
One patient died in a road traffic accident while awaiting surgery. The other two patients underwent endoscopic resection of the polyps with a combined osteoplastic flap.


RESULTS
Histology confirmed benign eosinophilic polyps with edematous stroma and a markedly thickened basement membrane. There were no complications or revision procedures. Both are symptomatically well with improvement of the hypertelorism.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases indicate that polyps in Samter's triad may be extremely aggressive, resulting in intracranial extension. A combined endoscopic and osteoplastic flap approach is a safe and effective surgical option.
Majithia
Anooj
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, United Kingdom. anoojmajithia@hotmail.com
Tatla
Taran
T
Sandhu
Gurpreet
G
Saleh
Hesham A
HA
Saleh
Hesham M
HM
Clarke
Peter M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin