Objective  To study how to select the surgical approach to benign space-occupying lesions in orbital sinus area.   Methods  According to the sites of benign space-occupying lesions

116 patients with benign space-occupying lesions in orbital sinus area were divided into frontal-ethmoidal-orbit area benign space-occupying lesion group (n=16)

sphenoid-ethmoidal-orbit area space-occupying lesion group (n=40)

and maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit area benign space-occupying lesion group (n=60). Of the 16 patients in frontal-ethmoidal-orbit area benign space-occupying lesion group

6 received endoscopic surgery

8 received endoscopic sinus surgery+open surgery

and 2 received ectorhinal surgery. All patients in sphenoid-ethmoidal-orbit area space-occupying lesion group received endoscopic surgery. Of the 60 patients in maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit area benign space-occupying lesion group

42 received endoscopic surgery

12 received endoscopic sinus surgery + open surgery

and 6 received ectorhinal surgery.   Results  Endoscopic sinus approach to the benign space occupying lesions in sphenoid-ethmoidal-orbit area had a rather good operation field and could completely remove the lesions. No recurrence of lesions and orbital and intracranial complications was found after operation. Endoscopic sinus approach could also easily remove the benign space occupying lesions in maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit area

medial wall of maxillary sinus

and certain frontal-ethmoidal-orbit pyoceles. However

it could not remove some special benign space occupying lesions in the maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit and frontal-ethmoidal-orbit areas.   Conclusion  Endoscopic sinus approach is an ideal procedure for removal of benign space occupying lesions in sphenoid-ethmoidal-orbit area

maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit area

medial wall of maxillary sinus

and special pyoceles. However

it cannot remove the lesions in some exposed areas

such as frontal-ethmoidal-orbit area and maxillary-ethmoidal-orbit area. Endoscopic sinus approach+open approach and ectorhinal approach should be employed to remove the benign lesions in these areas.