Application of the endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach to the maxillary sinus in unilateral maxillary diseases.

Patients who underwent surgery via the prelacrimal recess approach did so mostly because tumors were present in the maxillary sinuses (12/15; 80%), while most of the patients in this study underwent surgery because of chronic inflammation (122/177; 68.9%) and fungal infections (40/177; 22.6%). Among 15 patients undergoing surgery via the prelacrimal recess approach, 9 were cases of inverted papilloma. The mean follow-up period was 16.5 months (range, 6 to 28 months). No postoperative complications occurred after the prelacrimal recess approach. One out of the 15 cases undergoing the prelacrimal recess approach had tumor recurrence CONCLUSION: Most chronic inflammation and fungal infections of the unilateral maxillary sinuses can be managed through a middle meatal antrostomy. The endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach is a reliable and effective method used to approach maxillary sinus diseases.