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.
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.