title: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sinonasal tract: outcome of endonasal endoscopic surgery at five-year follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the outcome of endonasal endoscopic surgery for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sinonasal tract over a five-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four consecutive patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sinonasal tract, who had undergone endonasal endoscopic surgery, were reviewed regarding age at diagnosis, sex, primary site, tumour-node-metastasis staging, treatment modalities, histopathological findings, duration of follow up, distant metastases and treatment outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were diagnosed at an advanced stage and had post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy. Three patients underwent endoscopic endonasal resection and one endoscopic assisted craniofacial resection. The most common primary site was the ethmoid sinus (three patients). Three patients had no evidence of recurrence. One patient who had undergone partial clearance via endoscopic endonasal resection developed cervical node metastases a year after treatment; this patient also developed distant metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adenoid cystic carcinoma is difficult to treat. Sinonasal tract tumours can be resected via endoscopic endonasal resection or endoscopic assisted craniofacial resection, but prolonged follow up is advisable. Radiotherapy is an important adjuvant treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. bsgendeh@gmail.com
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gendeh
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Zahedi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kew
mesh_terms: D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome