Nasal mass in a pediatric patient.

The consultants agreed that the differential diagnosis should focus on congenital masses, including an encephalocele, glioma, dermoid, hamartoma, hemangioma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neurofibroma, and nasolacrimal duct cyst. There was some disagreement as to which is the best way to evaluate the mass, ranging from an MRI (Dr. Reilly), to CT scan (Dr. Cotton), to both MRI and CT (Dr. Koopman). Blood tests to evaluate pituitary function could be indicated if there was a sphenoid defect (Dr. Reilly). None of the experts would biopsy this lesion. All would proceed with a definitive resection. One surgeon would defer surgery for several months and then perform the resection via a biocoronal craniotomy (Dr. Reilly). A combined anterior craniotomy and external ethmoidectomy would be planned by another (Dr. Koopman). The third consultant would combine an anterior craniotomy with a mid-face degloving, external rhinoplasty, or lateral rhinotomy approach (Dr. Cotton). Routine perioperative antibiotics would only be used by two of the surgeons (Drs. Reilly and Koopman). If a CSF leak were encountered there are several options. A small lesion could be allowed to close on its own (Dr. Reilly). If the leak occurred while the bicoronal incision was still open or if the leak were large, it could be repaired from above (Drs. Reilly and Koopman). One surgeon would proceed with a repair from above even if the leak were encountered during the intranasal approach (Dr. Cotton). Only one surgeon would restrict postoperative activity with intubation and sedation or paralysis (Dr. Koopman). Regarding follow-up, no one was concerned about the final pathology report.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)