Outcome results of endoscopic vs craniofacial resection of sinonasal malignancies: a systematic review and pooled-data analysis

Abstract

Background: Endoscopic approaches of sinonasal malignancies are now being described. This study aims to conduct a systematic review with a pooled-data analysis to compare outcomes of endoscopic vs craniofacial resection of sinonasal malignancies.

Methods: A search was conducted of MEDLINE (1966-2008), EMBASE (1980-2008), Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, clinicaltrials.gov, and The National Guideline Clearinghouse databases and supplemented by references in retrieved articles. All authors used a detailed list of inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine articles eligible for final inclusion. The authors extracted data regarding study criteria appraisal, sinonasal malignancy characteristics, survival outcomes, and recurrence. Kaplan-Meier survival and locoregional control rates were calculated and compared using the log-rank test.

Results: Of the 2314 citations reviewed, the search yielded 15 case series with individual data on 226 patients. The most common malignancies were esthesioneuroblastoma (47%), adenocarcinoma (24%), and undifferentiated carcinoma (22%). The overall 5-year survival rate for the sample was 56.5% (standard error [SE] ± 3.8). Because of the paucity of data with endoscopic resection of high-stage malignancies, the outcome results were highly variable and no useful comparison could be made. Among low-stage malignancies (T1-2 or Kadish A-B), the endoscopic and open approaches demonstrated no statistically significant difference in outcome results. The 5-year overall survival was 87.4% (SE ± 5.3) in the endoscopic group vs 76.8% (SE ± 8.3) for open approaches (p = 0.351); disease-specific survival was 94.7% (SE ± 3.7) vs 87.7% (SE ± 6.7; p = 0.258); and locoregional control rate was 89.5% (SE ± 5.0) vs 77.2% (SE ± 10.4; p = 0.251).

Conclusion: Transnasal endoscopic resection appears to be a reasonable alternative to craniofacial resection in the management of low-stage sinonasal malignancies.