Management of nasolabial cysts by transnasal endoscopic marsupialization.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate hospitalization rates and duration of surgery associated with transnasal endoscopic marsupialization compared with sublabial excision in treating nasolabial cysts. DESIGN Retrospective clinical series. SETTING Large urban community hospital. PATIENTS Consecutive sample of 57 patients with nasolabial cysts treated from January 1, 2000, to February 29, 2008. INTERVENTIONS Sublabial excision in 23 patients (sublabial group) and transnasal endoscopic marsupialization in 34 patients (transnasal group). Among 57 patients, 47 underwent preoperative computed tomography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES History, clinical presentation, preoperative condition, histopathologic findings, treatment, complications, and outcomes. RESULTS The mean duration of surgery was 91.3 minutes in the sublabial group and 29.5 minutes in the transnasal group (P = .003). The hospitalization rate was 100% (23 of 23) in the sublabial group and 59% (20 of 34) in the transnasal group (P < .001). The medical costs were significantly lower in the transnasal group than in the sublabial group (P = .002). The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 85 months. Neither group of patients experienced any major complications or recurrences during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization is an effective treatment for nasolabial cysts, is less costly, and has fewer complications than sublabial excision.