[Treatment of antro-choanal polyp by enlarged endoscopic meatotomy. Apropos of 19 cases].

Antro-choanal polyp (ACP) is traditionally removed by performing Caldwell-Luc operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interest of removing ACP via enlarged middle meatotomy performed under endoscopic control (EMM). The cases of 19 patients who underwent EMM for ACP removal between 1991 and 1993 were retrospectively analyzed. The main symptom was nasal obstruction and ACP was diagnosed according to endoscopy, CT-scan and pathological examination. The usual technique for EMM included coagulation of the mucosal area of implantation of the ACP pedicle. The pedicle was localized on the external maxillary wall in 68.5% of cases. No complications was reported while ACP recurred in only one case. Using EMM to remove ACP appears therefore to be a safe and non-invasive method. The localization and removal of the ACP pedicle with coagulation of its mucosal area of implantation is recommended.