High-resolution CT: pre-operative assessment of chronic and recurrent rhinosinusitis

The better understanding of chronic and recurrent rhinosinusitis and the advance in endoscopic endonasal surgery have modified the radiological pre-operative investigation of this condition. The ethmoid labyrinth, not accessible to the endoscope, may be explored by axial and coronal high-resolution thin section (2 mm) CT. We have reviewed 100 CT scans with endoscopic correlation in order to assess the accuracy of this pre-operative method.This anatomical study reveals the presence and extent of parasinus diseases which are usually concentrated in the area of the ostiomeatal unit. The anatomic variations of the lateral nasal wall that have been reporded as predisposing to sinusitis and the morphologic variations altering the relationships of the ethmoid with the orbits and the brain were also studied. This pre-operative radiological assessment is currently necessary for functional and safe surgery.Correspondence to: J. C. FerriePaper presented at ECR 1991