Keywords: inverted papiloma, surgery, outcome, endoscope

Abstract: Introduction: Inverted papilomas (IP) are benign tumors that may lead to irreversible lesions if not diagnosed and treated promptly, specially due to recurrence and association with carcinoma. Aim: The objective of this study is to present 14 patients submitted to surgical treatment at the Department of Otolaryngology of the Hospital of Clinics of the University of São Paulo between the period of 1988 and 1998. Results: Of the 14 studied patients' total, 10 (71,4%) were male and 4 (28,6%) female. The age varied from 27 to 65 years (average = 47,6years; dp=13,5years). Most patients (n = 8; 57,1%) were in the 5th or 6th decade of life. The main symptom was unilateral nasal obstruction, presented by all (n =14), followed for purulent discharge (n =10; 71,4%) and unilateral epistaxis and hiposmia (n = 9; 64,3%). All IP (n = 14; 100%) originated from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. All patients were submitted to surgery, 7 (50%) underwent Caldwell-Luc procedure, 5 (35,7%) endonasal endoscopic procedure, ore (7,2%) Degloving and the other (7,2%) combined Degloving and paralateronasal approaches. In just ore patient operated in our service recurrence was observed and none of our patients evaluated with malignant transformation. Conclusion: Early diagnosis associated with surgical intervention is essential in the prognosis of the of IP. The use of the endoscopes during the surgical act and, specially, in the follow-up provides an excellent help in the control of this disease.