Comparison of Conventional Excision via a Sublabial Approach and Transnasal Marsupialization for the Treatment of Nasolabial Cysts: A Prospective Randomized Study.
OBJECTIVE
Surgical excision via a sublabial approach is considered the standard treatment for nasolabial cysts. Although transnasal marsupialization has been proposed as an alternative method, no prospective study has compared the effectiveness of these techniques. We thus compared the surgical procedure, operating time, postoperative pain, complications, and recurrence rate between the two surgical methods.


METHODS
Twenty patients diagnosed with nasolabial cysts were allocated randomly into two groups according to the surgical technique. In the sublabial approach group, the cysts were excised completely using a sublabial approach, while in the transnasal marsupialization group, the cysts were marsupialized transnasally under the guidance of nasal endoscopes. The pure operating time was measured and postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Complications after the procedure were assessed and recurrence was determined according to the clinical symptoms and postoperative radiologic findings.


RESULTS
The transnasal marsupialization group had significantly shorter operating times, less postoperative pain, lower complication rates, and shorter duration of side effects than the sublabial approach group. No recurrence occurred in either group after a 1-yr follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both methods are effective for treating nasolabial cysts, the transnasal marsupialization of nasolabial cysts has many benefits over the conventional sublabial approach. Therefore, we propose that transnasal marsupialization be the treatment of choice for nasolabial cysts.
Lee
Jae Yong
JY
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
Baek
Byoung Joon
BJ
Byun
Jang Yul
JY
Chang
Hyuck Soon
HS
Lee
Byung Don
BD
Kim
Dong Wook
DW