New anatomic division of the orbital and sinus regions: guidance for nasal endoscopic resection of space-occupying lesions.

The significance of anatomic divisions of the orbital and sinus regions in providing guidance for nasal endoscopic resection of benign space-occupying lesions was discussed. This retrospective study included 177 cases with benign space-occupying lesions of the orbital and sinus resected between 2001 and 2009. Locations of lesions were assigned to 3 anatomic categories. The 63 cases of benign lesions of the sphenoethmoid-orbital region underwent nasal endoscopic resection. In the 31 cases of benign lesions in the frontoethmoid-orbital region, surgical approaches included nasal endoscopy (n = 15) and combined endoscopic and external (n = 9) and external approaches (n = 4). In 87 cases of lesions in the axillae-ethmoid-orbital region, surgical approaches included nasal endoscopy (n = 67), combined approaches (n = 15), and external approaches (n = 5). Endoscopy facilitated the resection of both 63 cases of benign lesions of sphenoethmoid-orbital region, and 82 cases of benign lesions of the frontoethmoid-orbital and maxillae-ethmoid-orbital regions with good prognosis. However, the procedure was relatively more difficult for the other 32 cases of benign lesions of the frontoethmoid-orbital or maxillae-ethmoid-orbital regions. The feasibility of nasal endoscopic resection differs markedly according to anatomic location. Preoperative classification of the site of the lesions will help to define the indications for nasal endoscopic resection of the orbital and sinus regions.