Oncocytic schneiderian papilloma found in a recurrent chronic paranasal sinusitis

Oncocytic schneiderian papilloma (OSP), also known as cylindrical cell papilloma, is a rare benign sinonasal neoplasm. Due to its rare incidence, this disease is not well-understood by clinicians. The probability of malignancies arising in OSP is not low but they are rarely encountered in clinical practice. To the best of our knowledge, there is no documentation of OSP associated with recurrent chronic paranasal sinusitis (CPS). We hereby report an unusual case of OSP in a 28 year-old man which was first diagnosed and treated as recurrent chronic paranasal sinusitis. After three surgeries, OSP was revealed in the pathological findings and the tumor was completely resected endoscopically in the fourth operation. There was no sign of recurrence after two years of follow-up. A thorough review of histopathological slides from the first two surgeries showed no sign of OSP in these tissue sections. We present this case to remind clinicians that OSP can be found with inflammatory polyps in CPS, and it is easily overlooked clinically. Nevertheless, sufficient alertness from both the surgeon and pathologist is the cornerstone for the proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this rare nasal neoplasm.