Publishing date: 19 March 2026 Immagine notizia Immagine Paragrafo Congratulations to University of Insubria lecturers Paolo Battaglia and Mario Turri-Zanoni for their contribution to the advanced endoscopic sinus surgery procedure broadcast live as part of GR-ESS Live 2026 and commented on by Emeritus Professor Paolo Castelnuovo. This recognition confirms the value of the collaboration between the University and ASST Lariana in research, teaching and clinical practice.Below is the press release issued by ASST Lariana.A highly complex endoscopic sinus procedure, performed with the support of magnetic neuronavigation to remove a tumour of the frontal sinus: this was the contribution made this year by ASST Lariana’s Otolaryngology Unit to GR-ESS Live 2026, an international event promoted by the Global Rhinology Network, a non-profit academic organisation based in London. The initiative, organised over three days of live surgery and training sessions, connects leading centres of excellence worldwide in rhinology and skull base surgery. Last year, around 5,000 doctors followed the event online, confirming its high scientific and educational value. This year’s edition was attended by specialists from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, India, Italy and the United Kingdom. Invited surgeons performed procedures streamed from their respective hospitals, offering a unique training opportunity to thousands of colleagues around the world.The surgical procedure, performed live from the operating theatres of Sant’Anna Hospital, was broadcast online on Wednesday 18 March 2026. It was a particularly delicate procedure, carried out entirely endoscopically through the nasal cavities. This was a true surgical challenge, considering that the frontal sinus tumour could have required external access through the skull: the team was ready to convert the approach, but the operation was successfully completed using a fully minimally invasive technique, without the need for external incisions. The procedure was commented on live by Professor Paolo Castelnuovo, Emeritus Professor at the University of Insubria, a pioneer of these surgical approaches in Italy and mentor to numerous generations of endoscopic skull base surgeons.This technique makes it possible to treat complex diseases of the paranasal sinuses while reducing invasiveness and improving recovery times for the patient. In this context, the use of the neuronavigator was essential: an advanced technology which, thanks to three-dimensional radiological images, guides the surgeon in real time, increasing precision and operative safety, especially in anatomically complex areas in close contact with delicate structures such as the orbit and skull base.The operation was conducted by the Head of ASST Lariana’s Otolaryngology Unit, Paolo Battaglia, Associate Professor at the University of Insubria, together with the Head of Otolaryngology at Cantù Hospital, Mario Turri-Zanoni, a lecturer at the same university. “This is extremely sophisticated surgery, requiring extensive experience and the support of advanced technologies,” explains Battaglia. “The endoscopic approach and neuronavigation allow us to be more precise and less invasive, offering patients increasingly safe and effective procedures. Sharing them live with the international community represents added value from both a scientific and educational perspective.” “The invitation to take part in GR-ESS Live for the third consecutive year consolidates our role, now recognised internationally, as a reference centre for advanced endoscopic sinus surgery,” he continues, “capable of combining clinical practice, research and training in an international context.”The success of the live broadcast was also made possible thanks to the joint work of Sant’Anna’s Medical Directorate and Clinical Engineering department, which oversaw the organisational and technological aspects, ensuring a stable, high-quality transmission to a global audience. “I would particularly like to thank the entire team that performed the procedure, together with the professionals who made it possible to activate and ensure the perfect functioning of the complex organisational and technological set-up,” says Medical Director Brunella Mazzei. “This result shows how clinical expertise and innovation can be integrated to take our experience beyond local boundaries, contributing to the growth of the international scientific community.”(In the photograph, from left: Professors Mario Turri-Zanoni, Paolo Castelnuovo and Paolo Battaglia)