Endoscopic endonasal Resection of chondroma of the nasal septum: Two case reports

Introduction Chondromas are benign tumors of cartilaginous tissue and are a rare entity in the head and neck region. Considering the rarity of the disease in the nasal septum, we report on two cases of chondromas of the cartilaginous septum in adults.

Case description A 23-year-old male and a 71-year-old female patient presented to our clinic within a few weeks, with a newly diagnosed mass of the nasal septum. In the diagnostic workup of cephalgia and nasal obstruction, an MRI and a CT scan were performed in both cases, which demonstrated a well-defined mass of the nasal septum. There were no other complaints in the history of either patient. The clinical examination showed a protrusion of the nasal septum with intact mucosal lining. After histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of chondroma, an endoscopic endonasal resection was performed. As a wide surgical excision was performed, further therapy was not necessary.

Conclusion Chondromas are characterized by slow, displacing growth. Patients usually present with nasal obstruction, epistaxis, or cephalgia. The treatment of choice is surgical excision. Histopathologic examination of the specimen is required for diagnosis. Although chondromas are considered benign, they can be locally invasive and present with a recurrence rate of 10-15%. There is an approximately 5% risk of malignant, sarcomatous transformation, which makes long-term follow-up mandatory.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022