title: Proboscis lateralis: a rare craniofacial anomaly, reconstruction, and long-term evaluation.
abstract: Proboscis lateralis is a rare spontaneous congenital anomaly that results from a failure of normal embryological nasal development. The ensuing deformity consists of imbrication of the nasal soft tissues into a tubelike proboscis and can be associated with ipsilateral heminasal aplasia, choanal atresia, and multiple other abnormalities. A case report of a patient with proboscis lateralis is presented, with a 27-year follow-up detailing the complexities of long-term surgical management. After 15 major surgical interventions, there is relatively normal facial symmetry, but abnormalities remain with the underlying craniofacial skeleton and nasopharyngeal airway. Proboscis lateralis is not an isolated soft tissue abnormality but is a craniofacial defect that requires a long-term multidisciplinary approach to the surgical timing and treatment with lifelong follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1075, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanger
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Louis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Argenta
mesh_terms: D003103:Coloboma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005143:Eyelids / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome