← Back to guidelines
Otolaryngology (ENT)16 papers

Benign sinonasal papilloma

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Benign sinonasal papillomas are benign tumors arising from the Schneiderian epithelium, commonly affecting the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. They include subtypes such as inverted, fungiform, and oncocytic papillomas, with inverted papillomas being the most prevalent 2.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Often asymptomatic or presents with nasal obstruction, epistaxis, or recurrent sinusitis 2.
  • Endoscopic Evaluation: Essential for visualization and diagnosis, aiding in distinguishing papillomas from other sinonasal masses 4.
  • Imaging: CT or MRI useful for assessing extent and involvement of adjacent structures 2.
  • Histopathology: Confirmatory diagnostic tool identifying specific subtypes 2.
  • Management

  • Primary Treatment: Endoscopic sinus surgery is the mainstay for most cases 2.
  • Adjunctive Therapies: Adjuvant treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy may be considered for aggressive or recurrent cases 2.
  • Office-Based Procedures: Innovations like radiofrequency ablation and microdebriders enable some procedures to be performed in an office setting, potentially improving access and reducing costs 1.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Specific management considerations may apply but are not detailed in the provided abstracts 2.
  • Elderly: No specific guidelines noted; management likely follows general principles with consideration for comorbidities 2.
  • Comorbidities: Presence of undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma in association with sinonasal papillomas necessitates careful monitoring and tailored treatment 2.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Primary surgical intervention for benign sinonasal papillomas to ensure complete removal and prevent recurrence 2 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Consider Adjunctive Treatments: For cases with extension beyond the sinus or high recurrence risk, incorporate adjuvant therapies such as radiation 2 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Utilize Office-Based Technologies: Leverage advancements like radiofrequency ablation and microdebriders for selected procedures to enhance patient convenience and reduce healthcare costs 1 (Evidence: Expert opinion).
  • References

    1 Unsal AA, Gregory N, Rosenstein K. Current opinions in office-based rhinology. Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery 2018. link 2 de Sousa Fontes A, Sandrea Jiménez M, Urdaneta Lafée N, Abreu Durán PA, Quintana Páez LE, de Sousa de Abreu AC. Sinonasal papillomas in a private referral otorhinolaryngology centre: Review of 22 years experience. Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola 2017. link 3 Colley P, Mace JC, Schaberg MR, Smith TL, Tabaee A. Impact of educational intervention on the interrater agreement of nasal endoscopy interpretation. The Laryngoscope 2015. link 4 Batra PS. The role of endoscopy in the allergist's office. Current allergy and asthma reports 2006. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Current opinions in office-based rhinology.Unsal AA, Gregory N, Rosenstein K Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery (2018)
    2. [2]
      Sinonasal papillomas in a private referral otorhinolaryngology centre: Review of 22 years experience.de Sousa Fontes A, Sandrea Jiménez M, Urdaneta Lafée N, Abreu Durán PA, Quintana Páez LE, de Sousa de Abreu AC Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola (2017)
    3. [3]
      Impact of educational intervention on the interrater agreement of nasal endoscopy interpretation.Colley P, Mace JC, Schaberg MR, Smith TL, Tabaee A The Laryngoscope (2015)
    4. [4]
      The role of endoscopy in the allergist's office.Batra PS Current allergy and asthma reports (2006)

    HemoChat

    by SPINAI

    Evidence-based clinical decision support powered by SNOMED-CT, Neo4j GraphRAG, and NASS/AO/NICE guidelines.

    ⚕ For clinical reference only. Not a substitute for professional judgment.

    © 2026 HemoChat. All rights reserved.
    Research·Pricing·Privacy & Terms·Refund·SNOMED-CT · NASS · AO Spine · NICE · GraphRAG