[Diagnosis and treatment of olfactory cleft diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases originated in the olfactory cleft.


METHODS
Eight consecutive patients with the diagnosis of olfactory cleft diseases, encountered between December, 2003 and May, 2006, were included in this retrospective study. On the basis of case reports, the related anatomy, diagnosis and treatment of olfactory cleft diseases were discussed.


RESULTS
For the 8 patients with olfactory cleft diseases, the clinical and pathological diagnosis were as follows: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, inverted papilloma, glioma with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, pyocyst of the superior turbinate, angiofibrosteoma, neurofibroma and hemangioma. All patients were treated by endoscopic surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to two patients with malignant tumour.


CONCLUSIONS
The diseases in the olfactory cleft are not uncommon, which are often overlooked. In order to avoid misdiagnosis, (1) it is important to pay attention to this specific anatomic area; (2) the particularity of olfactory cleft diseases should be emphasized, especially in the cases of huge tumors. In that cases, the primary sites of olfactory cleft tumors can not be correctly judged preoperatively by CT scans, which can only be found during endoscopic surgery. For the treatment of olfactory cleft diseases, surgery under endoscope is the treatment of choice. If the tumor is malignant, postoperative radiotherapy should be added.
Wang
Rong-guang
RG
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China. wangrongguang@yeah.net
Liu
Qiong
Q
Lei
Lei
L
Wang
Hong-tian
HT
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012903:Smell; D055815:Young Adult