Recent trends in the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis

The almost simultaneous introduction of nasal endoscopy and CT imaging led to better understanding of normal and pathologic function of the paranasal sinuses. Diagnosis and treatment of many paranasal sinus diseases improved considerably. Endoscopy and CT are not concurrential; they are complementary, but they have specific strengths and weaknesses, as well as specific indications and considerations. Staging systems for chronic sinusitis are currently used based on CT findings and response to medical therapy. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has become the standard procedure for most surgical cases of chronic sinusitis. Indications for FESS have enlarged beyond chronic sinus problems and even beyond the borders of the sinuses. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery aims to gain maximal result (restoring normal function) with minimal trauma and morbidity. Correspondence to: M. Jorissen     

CT characterization of inflammatory paranasal sinus disease in cystic fibrosis

Purpose: In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) the prevalence of paranasal sinus affection approaches 100%. We hypothesized that the hyperviscous mucus reducing mucociliary clearance in CF patients could give sinonasal inflammatory patterns different from those in non-CF patients. We wanted to compare the extent and distribution of paranasal sinus disease and the inflammatory patterns in these two groups of patients.Material and Methods: One-hundred-and-eight CF patients (3-54 years old) and 79 controls (7-51 years old) with paranasal sinus disease confirmed at coronal CT were compared. The extent of disease was noted for each sinus and summed for all sinuses. Inflammatory patterns were identified and classified into: 1) routine surgery group (sporadic, infundibular and ostiomeatal complex (OMC) patterns) and 2) complex surgery group (sinonasal polyposis and sphenoethmoid recess (SER) patterns).Results: CF patients had more widespread sinonasal inflammatory changes and more advanced disease for each sinus. Most CF patients displayed sinonasal polyposis and SER patterns while most controls displayed sporadic, infundibular or OMC patterns. As a result, 67% of CF patients were classified to the complex surgery group, compared to only 19% of controls.Conclusion: The impaired mucociliary clearance in CF causes widespread inflammatory paranasal sinus disease, with inflammatory patterns more often requiring extensive surgery, with a higher risk of cerebrospinal fluid leak or bleeding, or involving areas that are more difficult to reach with the endoscope.     

Complementary role of MR imaging of ethmomaxillary sinus disease depicted at CT in cystic fibrosis

Purpose: To assess whether MR imaging can improve characterization of ethmomaxillary opacification diagnosed at CT in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in order to select patients that may benefit from functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).Material and Methods: Sixty-two CF patients (26 females and 36 males) aged 4-50 years (median 20 years) with ethmomaxillary sinus disease at CT underwent MR examination of the paranasal sinuses (coronal T1 and STIR sequences). FESS had been performed in 28 of the patients prior to this study. MR signal intensities were interpreted as mucosal thickening or infectious material, according to a previous study.Results: Three major maxillary sinus MR patterns could be distinguished: Air-filled, oval-shaped pus-filled, and streaky-shaped pus-filled sinus lumen. For air-filled maxillary sinuses with mucosal thickening, CT and MR imaging were diagnostically equivalent. Where CT showed homogeneous opacification of the maxillary sinuses, MR imaging differentiated between thickened mucosa and pus-filled areas. Patients who had undergone FESS most commonly had air-filled or streaky-shaped pus-filled maxillary sinus lumen. In non-operated patients oval-shaped pus-filled sinus lumen was most common and could occur without ethmoid disease.Conclusion: MR imaging of the paranasal sinuses can differentiate between infectious material and thickened mucosa and should be used to select CF patients with pus-filled areas that can be eradicated with FESS.     

A new low-dose CT examination compared with standard-dose CT in the diagnosis of acute sinusitis

A low-dose CT of the paranasal sinuses was designed with few, thin sections, non-uniform intersection gaps, low milliampere settings and avoidance of direct radiation to the eye lens. The low-dose CT was prospectively compared with standard-dose CT in patients with suspicion of acute sinusitis. Forty-seven patients were examined with low-dose CT immediately after standard-dose CT. The effective dose and the lens dose were calculated and compared. Using standard-dose CT as a gold standard the sensitivity and specificity of low-dose CT was calculated for each sinus group. The effective dose and the lens dose of the low-dose CT were reduced to, respectively, 3 and 2% of the standard-dose CT. The diagnostic yield of the low-dose CT with regard to acute sinusitis was good with a high specificity (≥96%) for all sinus groups. The sensitivity was also high (≥95%) except for the frontal sinus where the sensitivity was 83%. Low-dose CT offers considerable dose reduction and should be the standard for imaging patients with suspected acute inflammatory paranasal disease. Electronic Publication     

功能性鼻内镜手术九步法标准化治疗慢性鼻窦炎临床疗效观察

目的 探讨功能性鼻内镜手术(FESS)九步法标准化治疗慢性鼻窦炎的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析北部战区空军医院耳鼻喉科自2018年1月至2019年12月收治的慢性鼻窦炎并实施FESS九步法手术标准化治疗的93例患者的临床资料.记录并比较患者术前、术后3个月及术后6个月的症状视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分、鼻内镜Lund-Ke...     

CT findings in involvement of the paranasal sinuses by lepromatous leprosy.

The role of nasal infection in the transmission of leprosy has been extensively studied. Leprosy can affect the paranasal sinuses due to mucosal continuity and bacillaemia. This prospective study was performed on 25 untreated patients with lepromatous leprosy. 5 mm contiguous axial and coronal CT sections of paranasal sinuses, on soft tissue and bone windows, were obtained in all patients. Each sinus was examined for mucosal thickening, soft tissue densities and bony outlines. Representative biopsies were taken from ethmoid sinus to confirm the radiological diagnosis in 12 patients with multiple paranasal sinus involvement. Ethmoid aircells were involved in 20 patients (80%). Maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses showed abnormalities in 12, four and three patients, respectively. The ethmoid biopsy showed involvement by lepromatous leprosy in seven of 12 patients (58.3%). Involvement of paranasal sinuses is common in lepromatous leprosy and is of considerable epidemiological significance.     

How does nose blowing effect the computed tomography of paranasal sinuses in chronic sinusitis?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether inward or outward movement of the secretions in the paranasal sinuses due to nose blowing after nasal decongestion has any effect on the paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) images in patients with sinusitis and to asses whether nose blowing may result in misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis in radiological evaluation of sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with chronic sinusitis were evaluated in an academic tertiary care hospital and data were collected prospectively. After coronal sinus computed tomography scans were performed at 100 mA setting which was half the value of the standard radiation dose suggested by the manufacturer, topical decongestion was applied to each nostril followed by nose blowing 10 min later. Sinus CT scans were then repeated at the same setting. We evaluated the mucosal thickness of medial, lateral, superior and inferior maxillary and frontal sinus walls and the maximal thickness in anterior ethmoidal cells. The measurements prior to and following nose blowing were compared with Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The obtained images were also staged using Lund-McKay staging system separately and the scores were compared with Student's t-test. RESULTS: We observed a tendency towards reduction in mucosal thickness after nose blowing. There were statistically significant differences between maxillary sinus inferior wall and frontal sinus inferior wall mucosal thickness values prior to and after nose blowing. The difference however was very small, about 0.5 mm in magnitude and Lund-McKay score did not change in any of the patients after nose blowing. CONCLUSION: Nose blowing and topical nasal decongestion does not have any effect on the diagnostic accuracy of sinus CT in chronic sinusitis patients.     

The value of the occipitomental (Waters') view in diagnosis of sinusitis: a comparative study with computed tomography

AIM: Sinus X-rays are still frequently used in the evaluation of paranasal sinusitis. Many radiology departments nowadays provide the referring doctors with a single Waters' projection. Our purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a single Waters' view vs high resolution computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of paranasal sinusitis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 134 patients with suspected paranasal sinusitis underwent a Waters' view X-ray and high resolution CT on the same day. The radiographs were evaluated independently by nine experienced radiologists, who observed each sinus separately. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each sinus and for each observer, using the CT findings as a 'gold standard'. RESULTS: The weighted mean sensitivity for diagnosis of any abnormality in the maxillary sinus was 67.7%, specificity 87.6%, accuracy 78.6%, positive predictive value 82.5% and negative predictive value 76.9%. For this sinus the variation between observers was small, however, the sensitivity for diagnosis of any disease in the frontal and ethmoid sinuses varied widely between observers (range 1.9-54.0% and 0-58.9%, respectively). The sensitivity for the sphenoid sinus was very low (range 0-3.8%), even in radiographs which seemed to demonstrate it well. CONCLUSION: The Waters' view has its limits in the diagnosis of sinusitis of the maxillary sinuses and its contribution for diagnosing lesions in the remaining sinuses is very poor. Whenever access to CT is available, a low dose high-resolution CT study of the paranasal sinuses is highly recommended.Konen, E. (2000). Clinical Radiology55, 856-860.     

Computed tomography scans of paranasal sinuses before functional endoscopic sinus surgery

This review aims to familiarize the radiologist with the common types of sinus surgery including their indications and techniques.We also illustrate how surgeons interpret 3D sinus anatomy when evaluating computed tomography(CT)studies.Preoperative evaluation by CT is mandatory for all patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS).In the past decade in particular,CT of the paranasal sinuses has become a roadmap for FESS.The radiologist’s goal is to report on five key points:the extent of sinus opacification,opacification of sinus drainage pathways,anatomical variants,critical variants,and condition of surrounding soft tissues of the neck,brain and orbits.We present a systematic approach to the use of coronal,axial,and sagittal images in CT evaluation before FESS.     

副鼻窦CT对功能性鼻内窥镜手术的价值

通过对１００例慢性副鼻窦炎术前ＣＴ影像的分析结果，作者认为副鼻窦的ＣＴ检查能准确地反映变范围、程度，并可做出分型，分期；同时还可显示副鼻窦多种解剖变异，骨质改变，与周围结构的关系等，因此，对功能性鼻内窥镜手术有肯定的指导价值，是术前必不可少的最佳影像学检查手段。     

霉菌性鼻窦炎的CT诊断

目的 探讨霉菌性鼻窦炎CT特征性表现及诊断价值。方法 回顾性分析12例经手术病理证实的霉菌性鼻窦炎CT表现，提出诊断和鉴别诊断要点。结果 霉菌性鼻窦炎主要CT表现有：病变为单侧性，对侧鼻窦正常；病变仅位于上颌窦或以上颌窦为主，累及其他鼻窦；病变窦腔密度增高，不均匀，内有小团状，砂粒状，条状极高密度区；可有鼻窦骨质破坏。结论 霉菌性鼻窦炎的CT表现上有特异性，CT是诊断该病有价值的方法。     

真菌性鼻窦炎的CT与临床诊断

目的：探讨真菌性鼻窦炎的CT和临床特征以及新的分类。资料与方法：回顾性分析经手术、病理证实的34例真菌性鼻窦炎患者的CT表现。结果：CT征象：（1）所有受累鼻窦均显示窦腔内密度增高影；（2）上颌窦内可见团块状或线样钙化影25例（73．5％）；（3）窦腔高密度湿浊影中有气泡影8例；（4）上颌窦骨质吸收、破坏5例，窦壁骨质膨胀或变薄3例。结论：真菌性鼻窦炎有特征性的CT表现，如窦腔内可见团块状高密度影、线样钙化影或气泡影等。CT扫描结合鼻内镜检查是诊断本病的重要手段。     

鼻及鼻窦常见病变和解剖变异的CT冠状位靶扫描(附507例分析)

目的：探讨鼻及鼻窦常见病变和解剖变异的CT特征。方法：回顾性分析507例病人的冠状位CT表现。结果：慢性鼻及鼻窦炎占61．73％(313／507)；鼻息肉占22．87％(116／507)；囊肿占4．93％(25／507)，真菌性鼻窦炎占1．38％(7／507)；恶性占位性病变占0．79％(4／507)，未见异常占7．88％(40／507)。鼻中隔弯曲占65．66％(333／507)。Onodi气房占29．19％(148／507)；Haller气房占12．42％(63／507)。蝶窦发育不良占3．94％(20／507)；上颌窦发育不良占1．97％(10／507)。结论：冠状位CT靶扫描可对各种鼻及鼻窦病变做出诊断，并可显示其解剖变异的特征。     

CT characterization of developmental variations of the paranasal sinuses in cystic fibrosis

Purpose: To describe variations of paranasal sinus development in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and in non-CF patients examined for inflammatory sinonasal disease. We focused on anatomic variants that predispose to orbital and cerebral penetration during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), e.g. hypoplasia of the maxillary sinus and low ethmoid roof.Material and Methods: One hundred and sixteen CF patients (3-54 years, median 18) and 136 control patients (7-51 years, median 31) were examined with coronal CT of the paranasal sinuses. CF patients were grouped according to number of confirmed mutations: CF-2 (n=70), CF-1 (n=32), CF-0 (n=14). CT images were evaluated with respect to paranasal sinus development, pneumatization variants and bony variants.Results: Frontal sinus aplasia and maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinus hypoplasia were markedly more frequent in CF-2 than in control patients. No CF-2 patient had pneumatization variants such as Haller cells or concha bullosa. Low ethmoid roof was seen in 30% of CF-2 children, but in no control children. CF-1 and CF-0 groups had prevalences of aplasia and hypoplasia intermediate to that of CF-2 and control patients.Conclusion: Genetically verified CF patients had less developed sinuses, lacked pneumatization variants, and more often had anatomic variants that predispose to complications during FESS. Normally developed sinuses and pneumatization variants in some genetically unverified CF patients (CF-1, CF-0) suggest that these patients may be erroneously diagnosed.     

慢性鼻窦炎鼻窦CT报告书写内容现状调查

目的:调查目前慢性鼻窦炎（CRS）鼻窦CT报告对临床诊疗关注的鼻窦病变和解剖变异（或异常）的描述情况,并对描述较少的病变和解剖变异（或异常）进行总结分析,提高报告质量。方法:于2020年3月在全国范围内对书写鼻窦CT报告医师通过电子问卷调查鼻窦CT报告描述鼻腔鼻窦病变和解剖变异（或异常）的情况,并比较分析不同级别医院、...     

Prospective analysis of CT of the sinuses in acute asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma and sinusitis are both inflammatory diseases of the respiratory epithelium, but to our knowledge no prospective analyses of CT of the sinuses in patients with acute asthma have been performed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the type and extent of abnormalities found on CT of the sinuses in patients with acute asthma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with acute asthma and 62 age-, race-, and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in the emergency department. Limited coronal sinus CT was performed and scans were interpreted by a radiologist who was unaware of the patient's clinical condition. Scans were analyzed for the presence of mucosal thickening in the sinuses, ostiomeatal complexes, and nasal cavities. Scans were also assigned a CT score for total mucosal thickening. A CT score of 12 or more points indicated extensive disease. RESULTS: Mucosal thickening in the nasal passages (p < .001), ostiomeatal complexes (p < .05), and ethmoidal (p < .05) and sphenoidal sinuses (p < .05) was associated with acute asthma, but maxillary mucosal thickening was not (p = .44). CT scores differed significantly between asthmatic patients (7.7 +/- 0.8 points) and control subjects (4.1 +/- 0.4 points) (p < .001). Nineteen of the 65 asthmatic patients had extensive disease compared with two of the 62 control subjects (p < .001). Thirteen asthmatic patients with extensive disease underwent follow-up CT 5 months later, and 11 of the 13 patients showed improvement in CT score without having undergone specific therapy for sinusitis. CONCLUSION: Mucosal thickening in the nasal passages and sphenoidal, ethmoidal, and frontal sinuses is more common in patients with acute asthma than in control subjects. However, maxillary sinus mucosal thickening is no more common in asthmatic patients than in control subjects.     

Radiological follow-up of inverted papilloma

The aim of this study was to describe cross-sectional imaging features of recurrent papilloma of the nasal fossa and paranasal sinuses and to evaluate the role of MR and CT in the postoperative follow-up of this lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging and CT of ten patients who presented recurrence of inverted papilloma were reviewed and correlated to initial imaging, endoscopy, and surgical reports. Imaging patterns of recurrent inverted papilloma are identical to those of initial tumors and recurrence location is closely related to the site of the former lesion. Magnetic resonance is more efficient than CT for the diagnosis and evaluation of extensions. Magnetic resonance supplies the deficiencies of endoscopy in case of extensions to the frontal sinus or the lateral recess of the antrum, especially if mucosal hyperplasia or sinusitis is associated. Magnetic resonance imaging is the first imaging modality to perform in the follow-up after removal of inverted papilloma. Received: 28 April 1999; Revised: 18 November 1999; Accepted: 19 November 1999     

Meningioma of the paranasal sinuses

Summary Meningiomas originating in the paranasal sinuses are rare. These tumors are thought to arise from embryonal arachnoid nests which were pinched off and left behind during embryonic development. We have described various radiographic findings of two patients with meningioma arising in the paranasal sinuses (frontal sinus origin in a 65-year-old female, and sphenoid sinus origin in a 26-year-old female). The paranasal origin of meningioma was accurately determined on the basis of CT and arteiography. A review of the 11 cases previously reported and our cases indicates that there are no specific clinical or radiographic findings of meningiomas of the paranasal sinuses.     

鼻腔及副鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤的CT诊断

目的探讨CT对鼻腔及副鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤的诊断价值.材料与方法回顾性分析23例经病理证实的鼻腔及副鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤的CT征象,术后13例行CT随访.结果肿瘤呈不规则软组织肿块,以中鼻道为中心,同时侵犯同侧鼻腔及副鼻窦21例,单纯累及上颌窦2例;所致骨质改变以骨质破坏多见.术后肿瘤复发率高(85%),3例恶性变.结论CT能较好地显示鼻腔及副鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤的病变部位、范围及术后有无肿瘤复发,有利于临床治疗方案的选择.     

霉菌性副鼻窦炎的CT特征

目的探讨霉菌性副鼻窦炎的CT特征。方法回顾分析20例经手术病理证实的霉菌性副鼻窦炎的CT表现。结果单侧副鼻窦发病18例,双侧副鼻窦发病2例,全部病变均累及上颌窦,累及2个以上副鼻窦腔8例,病变侵犯后鼻孔2例。霉菌性副鼻窦炎的CT表现主要为病变窦腔内充满软组织影,密度增高,不均匀,病灶内出现点状、条状钙化灶,窦腔骨壁增厚伴破坏,窦腔缩小。结论霉菌性副鼻窦炎的CT表现具有单侧发病为主,窦腔内点状、条状钙化灶,窦腔骨壁增厚伴破坏以及窦腔缩小等特征。CT可为诊断本病提供重要信息,但确诊需要组织学和细菌学检查。