Cost analysis in the diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: The present treatment regimen for a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis involves a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy along with other adjunctive therapy. The decision to start treatment is made after diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis, which is based on subjective symptoms. The working hypothesis of this study is that the diagnosis based on subjective symptoms is inaccurate, leading to inappropriate antibiotic therapy and unnecessary health care expense. METHODS: One hundred patients were evaluated prospectively to determine which patients qualified for this study. Seventy-eight patients satisfied current criteria for a diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent (41 patients) of the 78 patients did not have a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis based on same-day computed tomography (CT) scanning. A charge analysis comparing treatment after diagnosis with medical therapy alone and CT scan for failures versus CT scanning with medical treatment for positive scans was performed. Although the most economical method of treatment was initiating medical therapy, it was also the least sensitive and specific in that 52% of patients didn't require the treatment. Endoscopy and/or CT screening with medical therapy were much better at appropriate diagnosis and targeted therapy but charge analysis indicated a much higher cost. CONCLUSION: Presently, the current subjective diagnostic paradigm for chronic rhinosinusitis is most cost-effective but least accurate. Objective evaluations (endoscopy and CT scanning) to aid in diagnosis are more accurate but more costly. Where cost constraints are important, careful considerations of alternatives are important.     

Severity staging in chronic sinusitis: are CT scan findings related to patient symptoms?

Chronic sinusitis is a prevalent problem. The symptoms of CS cause patients to seek medical attention, and therefore the presence of symptoms drives the use of health care resources. There is widespread clinical belief that computed tomography (CT) scan findings may be a reasonable proxy for disease severity in chronic sinusitis, and many authors have proposed that CT scan findings make up the key component in severity staging systems for chronic sinusitis. However, the relationship between symptom severity and CT scan findings in chronic sinusitis has not been well explained to date. To explore this relationship further, we examined data from consecutive patients with both a CT scan and a sinusitis symptom score, from ongoing prospective outcomes studies at two large academic centers in different cities (n = 254). CT scans were graded using two validated staging systems; symptom severity was assessed using two validated health status instruments and summary items. In addition, we explored multiple statistical modifications and permutations of CT staging to identify potential relationships between the two variables. In summary, no association between CT scan findings and symptom severity could be identified using both CT staging systems and patient-based symptom instruments. For instance, CT scans were examined: after eliminating normal scans, using different scoring algorithms, by worst side, by nonlinear association, when grouped into strata, and by eliminating patients with very severe disease; no statistical association was found between CT findings and patient-based symptoms using any of those techniques. Since symptom severity is a pivotal outcome measure in chronic sinusitis, these findings have significant implications for outcomes research and the development of severity staging systems.     

Significance of computed tomography pathology in chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Multiple reports show that the extent of disease on computer tomography (CT) of the sinuses does not correlate with patients' subjective sinus symptom scores. In the current study, sinus symptom scores of patients with normal findings on sinus CT scans are compared with sinus symptom scores of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and with disease on CT of the sinuses. The objective is to determine the significance of CT disease in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective collection of data of consecutive patients seen for possible sinusitis. METHODS: Prospective data at a tertiary medical center were collected over an 8-month period. Computed tomography scans were graded according to Lund and MacKay, and patients were asked to grade each of the major and minor rhinosinusitis symptoms listed by the Rhinosinusitis Task Force from 0 to 10. A score of 0 was given for no symptom at all, and 10 indicated the most severe extent of a symptom. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with sinus complaints had normal findings on sinus CT scans. The average scores for major and minor rhinosinusitis symptoms were 18.6 and 15, respectively. Twenty-six patients with sinus complaints had disease on CT of their sinuses. The average scores for major and minor rhinosinusitis symptoms for these patients were 42.9 and 22, respectively. Higher symptom scores were seen in the patients with CT disease, and the differences between these two groups were statistically significant (major symptom, P = .000001; minor symptom, P = .02). Patient symptom scores did not correlate with extent of disease on CT as previously reported (r = 0.16). CONCLUSION: The presence of CT disease translates to higher patient symptom scores compared with symptom scores of patients without CT disease.     

Diagnosis and pathology of unilateral maxillary sinus opacification with or without evidence of contralateral disease

OBJECTIVE: Determine the diagnostic criteria and etiology of complete unilateral maxillary sinus opacification. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on patients presenting to a tertiary care rhinology practice with complaints of chronic rhinosinusitis or acute exacerbation. Sixty-four consecutive patients were identified with unilateral maxillary sinus opacification on computed tomography (CT) scan after at least a 3-week medical therapy for rhinosinusitis. The study population comprised 30 men and 34 women with a mean age of 47.0 years. All patients completed a symptom score questionnaire, received nasal endoscopy, and CT imaging. Patient symptoms and endoscopic and radiographic findings were analyzed to determine patterns related to final diagnosis. RESULTS: All 64 patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Each surgical specimen was sent for pathologic confirmation of the diagnosis. Sixteen mucoceles, 12 cases of nasal polyposis, 27 cases of acute or chronic sinusitis, 7 cases of inverting papilloma, and 2 cases of mycetoma were identified. Endoscopic and radiographic appearances were correlated with each disease process. CONCLUSION: Unilateral maxillary sinus opacification is a relatively common finding. Early identification of inverting papillomas and mucoceles may avoid delay in surgical intervention, whereas acute/chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis can initially be managed medically. Careful history, endoscopic examination, and radiographic studies can often determine the responsible disease process.     

Chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis: disease severity and clinical characterization

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to clinically characterize and determine disease severity parameters for chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis (CRRS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective. METHODS: A consecutive series of adult patients undergoing evaluation for CRRS was prospectively evaluated. Patients with four or more acute rhinosinusitis episodes in the previous calendar year with an absence of symptoms between episodes were considered as manifesting CRRS. Symptom severity and disease data from the Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory was obtained, as well as Lund staging information from the paranasal sinus CT scan. The Lund staging scores for patients with CRRS were compared with a control group of patients without CRRS. Symptom domain scores and disease severity parameters were compared between the CRRS group and a third group of patients with chronic persistent rhinosinusitis. RESULTS: In all, 30 patients met inclusion criteria for the diagnosis of CRRS. Mean age was 40.9 years with a 3:1 female preponderance. The mean Lund score for patients with CRRS was 3.79. Patients with CRRS failed to demonstrate a statistically different Lund score from control patients (mean Lund score, 4.26 [P = .538]). Symptom severity scores according to Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory domains were largely similar for the nasal, facial, and total symptom domains between patients with CRRS versus chronic persistent rhinosinusitis. However, patients with CRRS demonstrated statistically significant increases in oropharyngeal and systemic symptom domain scores. Patients with CRRS also had significant increases in number of antibiotic courses (4.8 vs. 2.9 [P < .001]) and number of missed workdays (8.8 vs. 4.6 d [P = .046]) attributable to rhinosinusitis. CONCLUSION: Chronic recurrent rhinosinusitis is a distinct form of chronic rhinosinusitis differing somewhat from chronic persistent rhinosinusitis. However, patients with CRRS still experience significant symptoms associated with this diagnosis, which results in significant medication usage and workplace impact.     

Correlation between preoperative symptom scores, quality-of-life questionnaires, and staging with computed tomography in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the correlation between preoperative symptoms, quality-of-life questionnaires (chronic sinusitis survey and 20-Item Sinonasal Outcome Test [SNOT-20]), and staging on computer tomography (CT). It consisted of a prospective cohort study of all consecutive patients undergoing surgery for medically nonresponsive chronic sinusitis, which took place at a tertiary care center. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-one patients completed the Chronic Sinusitis Survey (CSS) questionnaire and the SNOT-20. A visual analog scale (VAS) symptom score was completed also. The average age of the patients was 44.5 years and the male/female ratio was 1.3:1. The symptom scores of all three questionnaires were compared with the Lund-MacKay CT scan score of the sinuses. RESULTS: The median Lund-MacKay CT score was 12 (mean +/- SD, 12.7 +/- 5.7). There was no significant correlation between the SNOT-20 questionnaire and the Lund-MacKay CT score (p = 0.026; p = 0.764) and between the CSS and the Lund-MacKay CT score (p = -0.158; p = 0.058). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between a single VAS symptom score relating to overall sinonasal symptom severity and the Lund-MacKay CT scan score (p = 0.135; p = 0.121). However, a weak but statistically significant correlation was found between the VAS score based on the sum of five sinonasal symptoms and the Lund-MacKay CT scan score (p = 0.197; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: The score, based on the sum of five sinonasal VAS symptoms, correlates to the disease severity as measured by the Lund-MacKay CT scan score. The SNOT-20 questionnaire and the CSS symptom score do not correlate to the Lund-MacKay CT scan score, although a correlation was found between the CSS score and the Lund-MacKay CT score in various sub-groups of our patient population.     

Endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis: a comparative study

Nasal polyposis are common presentations in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and are considered to be associated with more severe forms of disease with poor treatment outcome. The presentation and treatment outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis have been analysed in this study. A prospective analysis of 90 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis who were classified into two groups depending on presence and absence of nasal polyps was performed in the study. The two groups were evaluated using subjective (patient complaints) and objective (computed tomography scan and endoscopy scores) criteria. Preoperative data were compared with data obtained 12?months post endoscopic sinus surgery. The study included 38 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and 52 patients of nasal polyps. The patients of nasal polyp group presented with increased severity of symptoms of nasal blockage, nasal discharge and reduced sense of smell as compared to the chronic rhinosinusitis group who had significantly higher presentation of headache and facial pain. The preoperative CT scan revealed significantly higher bilateral disease with increased involvement of multiple sinuses in nasal polyp group. Post endoscopic sinus surgery both the groups showed significant improvement in their symptoms with the nasal polyp group demonstrating reduction in improvement on 1?year follow up. In our study we have found the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyp have varied severity of symptoms with the nasal polyp group having higher nasal symptoms and increased severity as compared to chronic rhinosinusitis group. Though the universal rationale of management by adequate drainage and ventilation of sinus is similar in both groups, there is a reduction in both objective and subjective scores during 1?year follow up in the nasal polyp group.     

Improvement of sinonasal mucociliary function by endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Objectives

Mucociliary clearance is an important defense mechanism for upper and lower airway. Chronic rhinosinusitis has been frequently associated with mucociliary dysfunction. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is recommended for treatment-resistant sinusitis in order to improve mucociliary function. The present study investigated the effect of ESS on the saccharin time (mucociliary clearance time) in relation to symptom profile assessed by the Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22, and disease severity based on the Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores and Lund-Mackay computed tomographic (CT) scores.

CT扫描对上颌窦骨间隔畸形的诊断价值

目的：探讨ＣＴ扫描对上颌窦骨间隔畸形的诊断价值。方法：对８例经ＣＴ扫描确诊、手术证实的上颌窦骨间隔畸形患者的临床资料进行分析。结果：８例中，垂直冠状分隔者５例，水平分隔者２例，垂直矢状分隔者１例，双侧者３例，单侧者５例。     

Radiographic stage fails to predict symptom outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preoperative computed tomography (CT) stage predicts degree of symptom improvement after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: A series of adult patients undergoing ESS was prospectively evaluated with CT and the rhinosinusitis symptom inventory (RSI) preoperatively and at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively. Symptom domains (nasal, facial, oropharyngeal, systemic, and total) were computed and both absolute change and percentage change in symptom domain scores before and after ESS were correlated with the preoperative CT scan stage according to three staging systems: Lund-MacKay, Kennedy, and Harvard. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-one patients (mean age, 40.2 years) completed the study with a mean follow-up of 19.4 months. Overall, statistically significant decreases in RSI symptom domains were noted for the nasal (net change -30.1 [range -100 to +100]), facial (-26.1), oropharyngeal (-13.4), systemic (-17.0), and total (-20.8) symptom scores (all P < .001). For the absolute change in total symptom score, no statistically significant correlation with CT stage was demonstrated for any of the staging systems (Lund: Spearman rho = -0.004, P = .962; Kennedy: rho = -0.008, P = .918; Harvard: rho = -0.011, P= .891). Similarly, no significant correlation with CT stage was demonstrated with the other symptom domains. Additionally, no significant correlation was identified between preoperative CT stage and percentage change in symptom domain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Although CT scan is widely accepted as an accurate diagnostic tool for chronic rhinosinusitis, CT scan stage alone does not significantly predict symptom outcomes after chronic rhinosinusitis, regardless of staging system utilized.     

Molecular and cellular staging for the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES: To correlate objective and subjective clinical parameters with molecular, cellular, and histologic markers and to acknowledge the importance of these basic science parameters in a severity classification system for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS in an academic institution. METHODS: The preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans of all patients with CRS scheduled for surgery were graded according to Lund and Mackay. The patients completed a Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-20 questionnaire and had a preoperative nasal endoscopy performed, which was graded by assigning an endoscopy score according to Lanza and Kennedy. Subjects had a medical questionnaire regarding presence of aspirin sensitivity, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and medication usage. Subjects also underwent pulmonary function testing and had skin tests for allergies. At the time of surgery, blood was drawn to determine the level of peripheral eosinophilia and the degree of polymorphisms of the leukotriene C4 synthase gene. Sinus mucosal and polyp tissue was examined pathologically for the number of eosinophils per high-powered filed (HPF) and was stained for EG2 to determine the portion of activated eosinophils. Leukotriene C4 levels (pg/g of tissue) were determined using a sensitive competitive enzyme immunoassay. Endoscopy and SNOT-20 scores were reevaluated 1 year after surgery. Data were analyzed for disease-severity correlation to recommend a severity classification system for CRS that incorporates the contribution of clinical, molecular, cellular, and histologic parameters. RESULTS: The presence of polyps resulted in higher preoperative CT scores and higher preoperative and postoperative symptom scores. Average preoperative CT scores were significantly higher in asthmatics and allergy patients and correlated with endoscopy scores. Patients with more than five eosinophils/HPF of sinus tissue had higher frequency of polyps and asthma and higher CT and endoscopy scores than patients without sinus tissue eosinophilia (less than or equal to 5 cells/HPF sinus tissue). The subgroup of patients with eosinophilic nasal polyps (eosinophilic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis) had more severe disease by CT and endoscopy than the subgroup of patients with nasal polyps (hyperplastic rhinosinusitis) but without eosinophilia. Similarly, patients without polyps but with tissue eosinophilia had more severe disease than patients without polyps and without eosinophilia. Leukotriene C4 levels were elevated in all patient groups. Symptom scores did not correlate with any of the parameters. CONCLUSION: We suggest the following severity classification system for CRS: 1) eosinophilic chronic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis (ECHRS): patients with polyps and sinus tissue eosinophilia; 2) noneosinophilic chronic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis (NECHRS): patients with polyps but without sinus tissue eosinophilia; 3) eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS): patients without polyps but with sinus tissue eosinophilia; 4) noneosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (NECRS): patients without polyps and without sinus tissue eosinophilia.     

慢性鼻-鼻窦炎骨炎严重程度影响因素分析

目的：探讨慢性鼻-鼻窦炎（CRS）骨炎严重程度的影响因素。方法收集CRS患者82例,男59例,女23例。采用整体骨炎评分系统（global osteitis scoring scale, GOSS）评价骨炎严重程度,并用Lund-Mackay评分及Lund-Kennedy评分来客观评价患者CRS的严重程度,检测外周血嗜酸性粒细胞数和嗜酸性粒细胞百分比,并收集外周血Th17细胞含量、血清总IgE、特异性IgE含量及C反应蛋白含量。GOSS与Lund-Mackay评分及Lund-Kennedy评分、血嗜酸性粒细胞含量及百分比、外周血Th17细胞百分比、血清总IgE及特异性IgE含量及C反应蛋白含量之间的相关性,采用SPSS13.0软件包进行统计学分析。结果骨炎GOSS评分与Lund-Mackay评分之间呈显著正相关性（r=0.823,P＜0.01）;骨炎GOSS评分与Lund-Kennedy存在高度正相关性（r=0.683,P＜0.01）;骨炎GOSS评分与血中的总IgE呈正相关性（r=0.3,P＜0.1）,但有骨炎组与无骨炎组患者外周血特异性IgE含量无明显差别;骨炎GOSS评分与血Th17细胞百分比、血嗜酸性粒细胞含量及C-反应蛋白含量均无相关性。结论 CRS骨炎严重程度与血中总IgE密切相关,与患者鼻窦黏膜炎症严重程度相关。     

Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pediatric acute and chronic rhinosinusitis are common pediatric ailments averaging six to eight occurrences a year with 0.5-5% of these progressing to acute sinusitis. A yet undefined number of children progress to chronic sinusitis. Significant resources are spent treating children for sinus infections that would otherwise clear on their own. Practice guidelines for chronic sinusitis are needed. RECENT FINDINGS: Good prospective studies are lacking because of the shear numbers of patients that must be enrolled to obtain a homogeneous population for study. This lack of good prospective studies prevents the development of pediatric practice guidelines for medical and surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Most recent studies focus primarily on pathophysiology and medical management. An area of significant knowledge deficit is the role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in chronic sinusitis. There have been no recent significant changes in the medical or surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis other than the rationale of performing an adenoidectomy prior to endoscopic sinus surgery for eradication of biofilms. SUMMARY: Current therapy for pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis continues to be prolonged courses of antibiotics and if the symptoms persist, staged surgical intervention with initial adenoidectomy followed by partial or anterior ethmoidectomy.     

慢性鼻窦炎合并哮喘患者CT Lund Mackay评分与VAS评分相关性分析

目的探讨慢性鼻窦炎合并哮喘患者术前CT Lund Mackay评分与术前及术后1年主观症状VAS评分的相关性。方法回顾性分析19例慢性鼻窦炎合并哮喘患者术前CT Lund Mackay评分和主观症状VAS评分及术后1年主观症状VAS评分,采用线性回归分析及配对t检验进行统计学分析。结果患者术前CT Lund Mackay评分中筛窦、窦口鼻道复合体、上颌窦评分较高,蝶窦最低。患者术前鼻塞、流涕VAS评分较高,头痛及嗅觉减退VAS评分较低。术后1年鼻塞、流涕VAS评分变化较大,头痛次之,嗅觉减退VAS评分变化相对较小（P＜0.05）。术前VAS评分（总分）及术后1年VAS评分（总分）与患者术前CT Lund Mackay评分呈正相关（r=0.465,P=0.045;r=0.522,P=0.022）。结论鼻塞、流涕是术前慢性鼻窦炎合并哮喘患者的主要鼻部症状,术后鼻塞、流涕、头痛、嗅觉减退均有改善,其中鼻塞、流涕改善最明显。术前VAS评分（总分）及术后1年VAS评分（总分）与术前患者CT Lund Mackay评分相关性良好。对于慢性鼻窦炎合并哮喘患者术前进行鼻窦CT客观评估,对于手术效果评估具有重要意义。     

Long-term follow-up for children treated with surgical intervention for chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The goal of this study is to retrospectively compare the long-term, 10 year, outcomes of surgical versus medical management of young children with chronic rhinosinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, age-matched, cohort outcome study performed at a tertiary-care hospital. METHODS: Two groups of young children (2-5 yr old) with chronic rhinosinusitis were treated with endoscopic sinus surgery or medically managed and evaluated 10 years after their initial therapy. Of the 131 eligible patients, 67 could be located and consented to participate in the study. Six symptoms (day cough, night cough, irritability or crankiness, headaches, nasal airway obstruction, and purulent rhinorrhea) were used to assess the outcome of their treatment. RESULTS: Children undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery had more significant disease as noted on the computed tomography (CT) scans. Their symptom severity, however, was similar. When individual symptoms were compared, there were no statistically significant differences between the surgically and medically managed groups. When the mean was controlled for baseline symptom severity and CT severity, there was statistical improvement in nasal airway obstruction and decreased rhinorrhea. There was a trend toward improvement in cough, but this was not statistically significant. Parenteral assessment of improvement (change) in symptoms (P = .001) and their degree of satisfaction with treatment (P = .005) was significantly higher in the surgically managed group. CONCLUSIONS: Children who have chronic rhinosinusitis improve in their symptoms of nasal airway obstruction and purulent discharge if they undergo surgery. Parents of young children with chronic rhinosinusitis appear to be more satisfied with the outcome of surgical management than medical management when assessed 10 years later.     

Clinical symptomatology and paranasal sinus involvement with nasal septal perforation

OBJECTIVE: Determine the symptom manifestations, clinical impact, and incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients with newly diagnosed nasal septal perforation. METHODS: A consecutive series of adult patients with nasal septal perforation were prospectively studied at the time of endoscopic diagnosis with the rhinosinusitis symptom inventory (RSI) and sinus computed tomography (CT). Patients' symptoms in the RSI symptom domains were computed. From the CT scan, septal perforation size and Lund scores were obtained. A separate (control) cohort of patients with CRS without septal perforation was matched to these patients for age, sex, and Lund score. RSI symptom domain comparisons were conducted between groups to determine the additional symptom burden conferred by septal perforation. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with septal perforation were enrolled (mean age, 48.2 yr; 69.7% female). Mean perforation size was 1.9 (SD, 2.1) cm. The mean Lund score was 5.8 (SD, 5.3); 16 (57.1%) patients met radiographic criteria for a concurrent diagnoses of CRS. Patients with septal perforation reported significant nasal and facial symptom domain scores (56.8 and 47.0, respectively [range, 0-100]). Oropharyngeal and systemic symptoms were less severe (29.7 and 34.7, respectively). However, after comparison with the matched control patients, no statistically significant differences were identified in sinonasal symptoms between patients with and without septal perforation (all P > .131). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent CRS may frequently accompany nasal septal perforation and may require appropriate treatment along with the perforation itself. The presence of septal perforation does not appear to significantly augment symptom severity in CRS.     

Incidence of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis in patients undergoing primary sinus surgery compared to revision surgery

HYPOTHESIS: The incidence of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis has been underreported due to poor recognition of the disease process. The surgical management of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis with prolonged pre and post-operative antibiotic therapy can alter clinical course of the disease process. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 40 patients based at two teaching tertiary care institutions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT scans of twenty patients (ten undergoing primary sinus surgery and ten undergoing revision sinus surgery) were randomly selected from each institution and reviewed by an independent radiologist for evidence of hyperostosis and compared to original reading of the CT scans. RESULTS: The finding of sinus hyperostosis is rarely reported by the radiologist on the sinus CT scan where the focus is always on mucosal disease. The incidence of sinus hyperostosis is higher, in patients undergoing revision sinus surgery than patients undergoing primary sinus surgery. CONCLUSION: Sinus hyperostosis is not an uncommon finding in chronic refractory sinusitis which may require long term intravenous antibiotic therapy in conjunction with surgery to provide symptomatic relief.     

鼻内镜与CT扫描对慢性鼻窦炎诊断的协同作用

目的探讨鼻内镜与CT扫描对慢性鼻窦炎诊断的协同作用.方法回顾分析164例慢性鼻窦炎患者的临床资料,总结鼻内镜与CT扫描对本病诊断的协同作用.结果164例慢性鼻窦炎中,31例CT扫描窦口鼻道复合体基本正常,但鼻内镜检查却发现窦口鼻道复合体存在黏膜病变.CT漏诊率为18.9%.其中19例行功能性鼻内镜手术,治愈率为89.4%;其余12例行保守治疗,治愈率为33.3%,差异有显著性意义(P＜0.05).结论在慢性鼻窦炎诊断中鼻内镜与CT扫描有着重要的协同作用.鼻内镜对窦口鼻道复合体黏膜病变的诊断具有更优越的价值.     

Allergic fungal sinusitis in children

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a subtype of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) characterized by type I hypersensitivity, nasal polyposis, characteristic computed tomography scan findings, eosinophilic mucus, and the presence of fungus on surgical specimens without evidence of tissue invasion. This refractory subtype of CRS is of the great interest in the pediatric population, given the relatively early age of onset and the difficulty in managing AFS through commercially available medical regimens. Almost universally, a diagnosis of AFS requires operative intervention. Postoperative adjuvant medical therapy is a mainstay in the treatment paradigm of pediatric AFS.     

早期慢性侵袭性真菌性鼻-鼻窦炎鼻窦CT特征及其诊断意义

目的 :探讨早期慢性侵袭性真菌性鼻 鼻窦炎 (CIFRS)鼻窦CT特征及其诊断意义。方法 :以病理学诊断为依据 ,对 18例诊断为早期CIFRS的鼻窦CT影像学表现进行回顾性分析 ,并与 35例非侵袭性真菌性鼻 鼻窦炎 (NIFRS)进行比较。结果 :早期CIFRS鼻窦CT表现为 :14例 (77.8% )为单窦病变 ,多见于上颌窦 ,其次是蝶窦、筛窦 ;多窦病变为 4例 (2 2 .2 % ) ;病变鼻窦内表现为密度不均匀不透光影 ;单窦病变者窦腔均不同程度向邻近鼻窦、鼻腔或眼眶膨出 ;12例 (6 6 .7% )病变鼻窦内可见钙化斑或点 ,CT值为 80～ 16 0Hu ;7例 (38.9% )病变鼻窦显示窦壁骨质破坏 ,其中 2例同时有中鼻甲大部分破坏 ,1例同时有鼻中隔破坏。与NIFRS鼻窦CT比较 ,CIFRS多窦病变比例和骨质破坏比例较高 ,且破坏程度较大。结论 :早期CIFRS鼻窦CT表现病变多窦侵犯、病变鼻窦骨质破坏的机率略高 ,但总体特征与NIFRS基本相似 ,因此鼻窦CT对早期CIFRS的诊断无特异性意义。