Root canal therapy combined with endoscopic sinus surgery for odontogenic sinusitis:Efficacy comparison in a cohort study

BACKGROUND Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis,often triggered by dental issues like periapical periodontitis,significantly contributes to chronic sinusitis,mainly affecting adults around 50 years old,emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment approach.AIM To investigate the therapeutic effect and clinical value of root canal therapy combined with nasal endoscopic surgery compared with simple root canal the-rapy in the treatment of severe odontogenic maxillary sinusitis caused by peria-pical periodontitis.METHODS The clinical data,diagnosis,and treatment of 200 patients with severe odonto-genic maxillary sinusitis caused by periapical periodontitis from October 2020 to October 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.Among them,63 patients were treated with simple root canal therapy as the control group,and 137 patients were treated with root canal therapy combined with nasal endoscopic surgery as the observation group.The therapeutic effect,Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score,paranasal sinus Lund-Mackay score,complication rate,recurrence rate,and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.RESULTS First,we compared the effective rates:23 cases were cured,22 were improved,and 8 were ineffective in the control group,yielding a total effective rate of 84.90%.Meanwhile,97 cases were cured,34 improved,and 6 were ineffective in the observation group,resulting in a total effective rate of 95.62%.The observation group had a higher total effective rate compared with the control group(P<0.05).Second,we compared the Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score.Before treatment,no significant difference(P>0.05)was observed in this score between the two groups.After treatment,the Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score decreased in both groups.The Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score of the observation group at 3 and 6 mo after treatment was lower compared to that of the control group(P<0.05).Third,we compared the Lund–Mackay score of paranasal sinuses.Before treatment,there was no significant difference in this score between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the Lund–Mackay scores of paranasal sinuses decreased in both groups.The Lund–Mackay scores of paranasal sinuses in the observation group at 3 and 6 mo after treatment were lower compared to those of the control group(P<0.05).Fourth,we compared the incidence and recurrence rate of complications.Three months after treatment,no significant difference was found in the incidence and recurrence rate of complications between the observation group(6.56%)and the control group(9.52%)(P>0.05).However,6 mo after treatment,the incidence and recurrence rate of complications in the observation group(2.91%)was significantly higher compared to that of the control group(12.69%)(P<0.05).Fifth,we compared patient satisfaction.Six months after treatment,the patient satisfaction of the observation group(93.43%)was significantly better than that of the control group(84.12%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Root canal therapy combined with nasal endoscopic surgery has a good therapeutic effect on severe odontogenic maxillary sinusitis caused by periapical periodontitis,and it can reduce the injury of maxillary sinus mucosa and bone,and significantly reduce the incidence of complications and recurrence rate.Meanwhile,it has high patient satisfaction and remarkable therapeutic effect,which is suggested to be popularized and applied in clinic.

Expert consensus on odontogenic maxillary sinusitis multi-disciplinary treatment

Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) is a subtype of maxillary sinusitis (MS). It is actually inflammation of the maxillary sinus that secondary to adjacent infectious maxillary dental lesion. Due to the lack of unique clinical features, OMS is difficult to distinguish from other types of rhinosinusitis. Besides, the characteristic infectious pathogeny of OMS makes it is resistant to conventional therapies of rhinosinusitis. Its current diagnosis and treatment are thus facing great difficulties. The multi-disciplinary cooperation between otolaryngologists and dentists is absolutely urgent to settle these questions and to acquire standardized diagnostic and treatment regimen for OMS. However, this disease has actually received little attention and has been underrepresented by relatively low publication volume and quality. Based on systematically reviewed literature and practical experiences of expert members, our consensus focuses on characteristics, symptoms, classification and diagnosis of OMS, and further put forward multidisciplinary treatment decisions for OMS, as well as the common treatment complications and relative managements. This consensus aims to increase attention to OMS, and optimize the clinical diagnosis and decision-making of OMS, which finally provides evidence-based options for OMS clinical management.

Effect of nursing intervention on rehabilitation of patients with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps after nasal endoscopy

BACKGROUND Chronic sinusitis is a kind of chronic suppurative inflammation of the sinus mucosa.Nasal endoscopy is a good method to treat nasal polyps.However postoperative rehabilitation and care should not be neglected.AIM To investigate the Effect of nursing intervention on the rehabilitation of patients with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps(CSNPS)after nasal endoscopy.METHODS A total of 129 patients with CSNPS hospitalized from February 2017 to February 2019 were studied.Using the digital parity method,we investigated nursing cooperation strategies for endoscopic surgery.The comparison group(64 cases):Surgical nursing was carried out with traditional nursing measures;experimental group(65 cases):Surgical nursing was carried out by traditional nursing countermeasures+comprehensive nursing measures.We compared postoperative recovery rates,nursing satisfaction rates,and nasal cavity ratings between the two groups.RESULTS Experimental group patients with CSNPS had a significantly higher recovery rate(98.46%)compared to the control group(79.69%).This difference was statistically significant(χ2=11.748,P<0.05).Additionally,the satisfaction rate with treatment was also significantly higher in the experimental group(98.46%)compared to the control group(79.69%),with a statistically significant difference(χ2=11.748,P<0.05).Before nursing,there was no significant difference in sinus nasal cavity scores between the experimental group(20.29±7.25 points)and the control group(20.30±7.27 points)(t=0.008,P>0.05).However,after nursing,the sinus nasal cavity score in the experimental group(8.85±3.22 points)was significantly lower than that in the control group(14.99±5.02 points)(t=8.282,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Comprehensive nursing intervention in patients with CSNPS can significantly improve the total recovery rate after endoscopic surgery.

Real World Evidence (RWE, Real World Data), of the Effectiveness of Amoxicillin-Clavulanate in the Treatment of Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (Tonsillitis, Otitis, Sinusitis)

Real-world evidence (RWE) is clinical evidence on a medical product’s safety and efficacy that is generated using real-world data (RWD) resulting from routine healthcare delivery. This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of amoxicillin + clavulanic acid in children with pharyngitis, acute otitis, or acute rhinosinusitis with suspected bacterial origin under normal office and home conditions. Methods: This was a real-life, prospective, observational, pharmacovigilance study. It included children of both sexes between 2 and 12 years old, with a diagnosis of Rhinopharyngitis (tonsillitis), Acute Otitis Media and Rhinosinusitis. The main effectiveness variable evaluated was reduction and time to resolution of symptoms. All patients received Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid suspension 600 mg/42.9 mg/5 mL at a dose of 90 mg/Kg/day in two doses, every 12 hours for 7 days. The evaluations were carried out at the beginning, at 72 hours (3rd day) and at 7 days. All patients underwent culture and antibiogram. Results: The majority of cultures were negative for pathogenic germs, suspecting unidentifiable germs, or viral etiology despite the rigorous selection of subjects following validated scores. The most frequently isolated germ was Staphylococcus aureus;growth of gram-negative bacteria was reported in 33.33% of the cultures. There was a significant improvement in symptoms in children with tonsillitis and rhinosinusitis from the first 72 hours of treatment, persisting until the 7 days. In the otitis media group, returning to normal by the tenth day. During the conduction of this investigation, no adverse effects associated with the prescribed therapy were reported.

Proposed computed tomography severity index for the evaluation of invasive fungal sinusitis:Preliminary results

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal sinusitis(IFS)can present as a mild disease to life-threatening infection.A recent surge in cases was seen due to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Many patients require surgical debridement and hence imaging[contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)of the paranasal sinuses(PNS)]to document the extent of the disease.However,there was no scoring system using CECT to describe the severity of IFS.This study proposes a computed tomography(CT)severity index(CTSI)to describe the severity of rhino-orbital-cerebral involvement in symptomatic COVID-19 patients and hypothesizes that higher CTSI correlates with disease severity and thus slow response/non-response to treatment.AIM To propose a scoring system using CECT to describe the severity of IFS and correlate it with clinical outcomes.METHODS A prospective study on 66 COVID-19 positive patients with CECT PNS done for IFS was performed.Split-bolus single-phase CT technique was used.Based on the extent of involvement,a CTSI was designed.Disease in four major subsite areas was assessed.Each subsite involvement was given points according to this model and then summated.Based on the final summated CTSI,the disease was classified as mild,moderate,or severe.Two subsets were subsequently analyzed including survival and death;and responders and non-responders.RESULTS The study cohort was 66 COVID-19-positive patients with suspected IFS with a median age of 48.5 years.Mild disease was noted in 34(51.52%),moderate in 28(42.42%),and severe disease in 4(6.06%)patients.There was a significant association of mortality and poor clinical response(P=0.02)with disease bilaterality.Laterality and CTSI were significant predictors of response to treatment.The mean CTSI of responders was 6.3,of non-responders was 12.9 and the response to treatment was significantly associated with CTSI(t-test,P<0.001).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis(Liu method)to distinguish between responders and non-responders showed that the cut-off value for CTSI of 11 had a sensitivity of 78.26%and a specificity of 95.35%to predict response assessment.CONCLUSION CTSI can help in quantification of the disease burden,mapping out disease extent,triaging patients,and response assessment;especially patients with underlying comorbidities.A higher score would alert the clinician to initiate aggressive treatment,as severe disease correlates with slow response/non-response to the treatment.

Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases: An extensive review

Signifcant links between allergic rhinitis and asthma have been reported, and the united airway disease hypothesis is supported by numerous findings in epidemiologic, physiologic, pathologic, and immunologic studies. The impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma has been esta-blished. On the other hand, the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lung diseases has been under investigation. Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease, and the high prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in some kinds of lung diseases has been reported. Recent studies suggest that the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis has beneficial effects in the management of asthma. Here, we present an overview of the current research on the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pul-monary disease, cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, idiopathic bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Relationship between dacryoadenitis subtype of idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor and paranasal sinusitis

AIM：To determine the clinical features of the dacryoadenitis subtype of idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor and its relationship with paranasal sinusitis.· METHODS：A retrospective analysis of 46 patients who received surgical treatment at the Department of Ophthalmology,Beijing Tongren Hospital,Capital Medical University for the dacryoadenitis subtype of idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor from October 2010 to December 2012.Each patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） of the orbits and the 4paranasal sinuses.Disease status and the level of serum immunoglobulin G4（IgG4） was measured before and6 mo after surgery.· RESULTS：The initial clinical feature of the idiopathic dacryoadenitis type of orbital inflammatory pseudotumor was redness or swelling of the eyelids.Masses were palpated in the area of the lacrimal gland in some patients.Of the 46 patients,16 also suffered from sinusitis（34.8%）,with 14 cases of ethmoid sinusitis,8cases of maxillary sinusitis,9 cases of sphenoid sinusitis,and 8 cases of frontal sinusitis.Of the 16 patients with sinusitis,4 patients had a medical history of rhinitis（range：10mo to 15 y previously）,10 patients had occasional nasal congestion,and 2 patients had no nasal congestion.Thirteen of the 46 patients had elevated serum IgG4 levels.Nine of these 13 patients had MRI signs of sinusitis.All patients（n=46） received oral glucocorticoid treatment for approximately 3mo after surgery.No sign of recurrence was found in the orbital MRI 6mo after surgery.Of the 16 patients with sinusitis,9cases of elevated serum IgG4 levels improved after treatment with decreased serum IgG4 level and 7 cases of normal serum IgG4 levels remained unchanged.· CONCLUSION：Some patients with the dacryoadenitis subtype of idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor may also suffer from paranasal sinusitis.The incidence of paranasal sinusitis was much higher in patients with IgG4-elevated dacryoadenitis subtype orbital inflammatory pseudotumor than in those with normal IgG4 levels.Dacryoadenitis subtype orbital inflammatory pseudotumor and paranasal sinusitis may both the clinical manifestations of IgG4-related disease involved in different locations.

Systematic Evaluation of Biyuan Tongqiao Granule in the Treatment of Chronic Sinusitis in Children Based on Meta-analysis

[Objectives]To make an evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Biyuan Tongqiao Granule in the treatment of chronic sinusitis in children,and provide evidence-based medical reference for clinical use.[Methods]Databases such as Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System(SinoMed),China Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang Digital Journal Full-text Database(WF),VIP Database(VIP),EmBase,PubMed,Science Direct,and Cochrane Library were used to collect the clinical randomized controlled trials of Biyuan Tongqiao Granule in children with chronic sinusitis published since the creation of databases.The quality of the included literature was evaluated and the data were extracted.The data was analyzed using Review Manager 5.3 software for meta-analysis,and descriptive analysis was performed for studies that could not be combined.The GRADE method was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence.[Results]A total of 12 studies were included,including 1645 cases of patients.The analysis results show that compared with the control group,Biyuan Tongqiao Granule has an excellent curative effect on children with chronic sinusitis and has a lower incidence of adverse reactions.The GRADE evidence level indicated that the sinus CT scan lesion score was intermediate evidence,and the visual analog score,endoscopic mucosal morphology score,and total effective rate were low-level evidence.[Conclusions]Biyuan Tongqiao Granule has a significant effect in treating chronic sinusitis in children and does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions,but its efficacy and safety need support of more high-quality studies.

Association of Comorbid Asthma and the Efficacy of Bioabsorbable Steroid-eluting Sinus Stents Implanted After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Objective To identify factors affecting the efficacy of steroid-eluting sinus stents implanted after endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS)in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP).Methods We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomized self-controlled clinical trial on post-operative implantation of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting stents in patients with CRSwNP.Univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify which of the following factors affect the response to post-operative stent implantation:sex,serum eosinophil levels,history of prior surgery,endoscopic scores,and comorbid conditions(asthma and allergic rhinitis).The primary outcome was the rate of post-operative intervention on day 30,and the secondary outcome was the rate of polypoid tissue formation(grades 2–3)on days 14,30,and 90.Results A total of 151 patients with CRSwNP were included in the post-hoc analysis.Asthma was identified as the only risk factor for a poor response to steroid-eluting sinus stents on post-operative day 30,with an odds ratio of 23.71(95%CI,2.81,200.16;P=0.004)for the need for post-operative intervention and 19(95%CI,2.20,164.16;P=0.003)for moderate-to-severe polypoid tissue formation.In addition,the asthmatic group showed higher rates of post-operative intervention and polypoid tissue formation than the non-asthmatic group on post-operative day 30.Blood eosinophil levels were not identified as a risk factor for poor outcomes after stent implantation.Conclusion Comorbid asthma,but not blood eosinophil level,impairs the efficacy of steroid-eluting sinus stents in the short term after ESS in patients with CRSwNP.

Socioeconomic Status Impacts the Prognosis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Treated by Endoscopic Sinus Surgery:An Observational Cohort Study in Northeast China

Objective To explore the association between socioeconomic status(SES)and postoperative outcomes in patients with chronic sinusitis(CRS)after functional endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS).Methods We conducted an observational cohort study of 1,047 patients with CRS undergoing ESS.Discharged patients were followed up to 72 weeks for all-cause recurrence events.Baseline SES was established based on occupation,education level,and family income of the patients 1 year before the operation.Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate the recovery rate after ESS,and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between SES and prognosis.Results Patients of middle SES had lower unadjusted all-cause recurrence than those of low or high SES;24-week overall recovery rate was 90.4%[95%confidence interval(CI):89.6%–91.2%]in patients of middle SES,13.5%(95%CI:12.8%–14.2%)in patients of low SES,and 31.7%(95%CI:30.7%–32.7%)in patients of high SES(both log-rank P<0.001).After adjustment for covariates,hazard ratios(HRs)were7.69(95%CI:6.17–9.71,Ptrend<0.001)for all-cause recurrence for low SES versus middle SES,and 6.19(95%CI:4.78–7.93,Ptrend<0.001)for middle SES versus high SES.Conclusion Low SES and high SES were more associated with the worse prognosis of CRS patients after ESS than middle SES.

Analysis of pathogenetic process of fungal rhinosinusitis: Report of two cases

BACKGROUND Fungal rhinosinusitis is an infectious and/or allergic disease caused by fungi in the sinus and nasal cavity. Due to the warm and humid climate in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the incidence of fungal rhinosinusitis is higher than that in other provinces. However, its physiological mechanism is not yet clear.Not every patient colonized by fungi develops a fungal infection. To a large extent, the immune status of the patient determines the nature of fungal disease in the nasal passages. The pathologic process of progression from harmless fungal colonization to fungal rhinosinusitis is unclear and has not been reported.CASE SUMMURY We report two patients, one who developed fungal rhinosinusitis 1.5 years after surgery performed to treat an inverted papilloma, and the other with a history of hypertension and cerebral infarction. Both patients recovered from their surgeries. An average time of 2.5 years elapsed from the development of maxillary sinus cysts to the development of fungal rhinosinusitis.CONCLUSION According to these case reports, we speculate that the progression of fungal rhinosinusitis from harmless colonization to disease onset requires approximately one to three years and that the length of the process may be related to underlying diseases, surgical treatment, deficient autoimmune status,and abuse of hormone antibiotics and hormones. Additional data are needed to conduct relevant studies to appropriately prevent and treat fungal rhinosinusitis.

Correlation between Radiological Staging of Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Revision of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition affecting the sinonasal mucosa with duration of more than 12 weeks. Multifactorial aetiology contributes to its refractoriness. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the most common surgical technique preferred in CRS not responding to medical management, showing high success rates. However, some failure has been noted, requiring revision FESS. CT (Computed Tomography) is a diagnostic tool for CRS, and aids in improving surgical outcomes. Combined with the Lund-Mackay scoring system, CT can help stage the CRS, predicting the need for revision surgery. Methods: In our paper, we aimed to study the relationship between severity of CRS using radiological staging and revision of functional endoscopic sinus surgery, assessing outcome after at least 1 year of follow-up. There was a single centre retrospective study involving 150 patients selected by random sampling, to study the correlation between the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis and revision of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The study was conducted in the ENT department of King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain for a time period of 6 months. Records were scanned and scored using Lund-Mackay system. Lund Mackay score of 10 and above was considered severe. The relation between increased severity with Lund Mackay score on the CT scan and the need for revision sinus surgeries was then determined. Results and Conclusion: This study concludes that LMS score in CT scans can be used to predict the outcomes of primary FESS procedure and the need for revision surgery in the management of CRS.

Complications of Sinusitis: About 9 Cases in the Ear Nose &Throat (ENT) Department of the University Hospital Gabriel Touréin Bamako

Objective: This study aims to analyze clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of sinusitis complications in the Otorhinolaryngology department at the teaching hospital of Gabriel Toure in Bamako. Materials and methods: This descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted on 12 months from March 2012 to February 2013 in 9 cases of sinusitis complications in the department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University Hospital Gabriel Toure in Bamako. Results: The average age of patients was 22.7 years;a median of 19 years within 6 men and 3 women with almost 12.9 days of care seeking duration. The factors of risky were the use of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs NSAID (4 cases), maxillofacial trauma (1 case) and HIV (1 case). Facial pain was the major symptom, such as frontal oedema, rhinorrhea with pus shedding and nasal obstruction. Computer tomography was used for complications specification. Frontal sinusitis was the most encountered with subperiosteal abscess (44.4%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 3 cases. Medical treatment associated to surgery was conducted on 7 patients. Two cases of death have been registered. Conclusion: The complicated sinusitis is an emergency and dangerous disease requiring specific care by a multidisciplinary staff. Much of complications are commonly encountered despite the antibiotic era.

A Possible Association of Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B-induced Asthma and Sinusitis

In order to gain insight into a possible association between chronic sinusitis and asthma, 85 patients with sinusitis and asthma underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgical treatment and serum antibodies and cytokines were measured. The results showed that 51 out of 85 patients with high serum anti-Staphylococcus enterotoxin B （SEB） antibody before treatment obtained satisfactory results for both sinusitis and asthma. The high level of Th2 cytokine IL-4 was down regulated to the levels of normal controls after sinus surgery. Thirty-four out of 85 patients did not show high serum anti-SEB antibody before sinus surgery and did not show much improvement in their asthmatic symptoms although sinusitis symptoms were resolved by sinus surgery. It was concluded that bacterial superantigen SEB （in the sinuses） might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of lower airway hypersensitivity.

Subperiosteal orbital hematoma concomitant with abscess in a patient with sinusitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Sinusitis-derived subperiosteal orbital collection is uncommon and is usually diagnosed as subperiosteal orbital abscess or,rarely,as hematoma.We report a unique and even rarer case of subperiosteal orbital collection,which is actually a complication of hematoma and abscess.CASE SUMMARY A 26-year-old female presented with left eyeball pain and ipsilateral chemosis.She had no history of head trauma or upper respiratory infection.Her blood cell count showed an increase in leukocytes.Fiberoptic rhinolaryngoscopy revealed only mucosal edema of the left olfactory crest without apparent discharge.The computed tomography scan results showed an opaque left posterior ethmoid cell with a thickened bony shell and fusiform changes in the periosteal elevation of the medial wall of the left orbit.Emergent surgery revealed an ethmoid mucocele complicated with subperiosteal orbital hematoma and abscess.The pathology of the lamina papyracea between the mucocele and subperiosteal collection was necrotic,and the overlying mucosa was de-epithelialized.CONCLUSION Subperiosteal orbital hematoma with abscess in a patient with sinusitis adds to the current knowledge of orbital complications of sinusitis.

Periorbital necrotizing fasciitis accompanied by sinusitis and intracranial epidural abscess in an immunocompetent patient

Dear Editor,We have presented the unusual case of periorbital necrotizing fasciitis(NF) coexisting with sinusitis and intracranial epidural abscess in a healthy young patient that was successfully managed with medical and surgical treatments. The authors obtained informed consent in person and adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Management of Intracranial Complications of Sinusitis

Intracranial complications of sinusitis are rare. However, they have an important morbidity and mortality rate, and can be a source of disabling neurological sequelae in the absence of a rapid diagnosis and adequate treatment. We carry a retrospective study of 23 patients having sinusitis with intracranial complications, treated between 1996 and 2011. All patients underwent complete ENT and neurological examination, biological investigations and sinonasal and cerebral CT. An intraveinous large-spectrum antibiotherapy was administered to all patients. Twenty patients underwent surgery. It included evacuation of the intracranial collection, sinus drainage, with or without cranialization of the frontal sinus. Evolution was assessed on clinical biological and radiological criteria. Mean age was 25 years and sex-ratio was 3.6. Neurological signs were the most frequent symptoms. Rhinological signs were essentially purulent rhinorrhea (14 cases) and nasal obstruction (12 cases). Nasal endoscopy showed pus in the middle meatus in 10 cases. On CT, intracranial complications included subdural empyema (11 cases), extradural empyema (7 cases) and brain abscess (5 cases). Associated cerebral thrombophlebitis was noted in 4 cases. Three patients with extradural empyema had had an exclusive medical treatment. All other patients (20 cases) were operated. Clinical and radiological evolution was favorable after initial treatment in 14 cases (60.8%). Six patients required secondary surgery. Two patients have died despite intensive care. The intracranial complications of sinusitis are serious and source of important morbidity and mortality. Management should rapid and adequate, combining effective antibiotic therapy and eventually neurosurgical treatment.

Poor Reproducibility in the Evaluation of Paranasal Sinus X-Rays in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of sinus x-rays in comparison to sinus computed tomography (CT) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. Methods: This was a prospective controlled study for which 14 adult CRS patients were recruited. Patients underwent a sinus multi-detector CT scan as well as additional sinus x-rays at the same time. Symptom interview and skin prick tests were performed. Lund-Mackay (LM) scores and 43 other findings in paranasal sinuses were analyzed by three blinded observers from CT-scans and x-rays. We compared agreement between sinus CT and x-rays (intra-observer reproducibility) and between three observers (inter-observer reproducibility) by Cohen’s kappa. Results: In at least 90% of the cases, the status of 47/49 structures was detectable in CT scans, whereas the status of only 8/49 structures was detectable in x-rays. The majority of the 25 visualized structures had poor intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility. Conclusion: Only a few structures can be visualized in paranasal sinus x-rays and compared to paranasal sinus CT-scans, their reproducibility is poor. Our results strongly support the current consensus of radiation dose reduction by limiting the number of x-rays.

Treatment of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis：a Report of 31 Cases

Objective: To evaluate the effects of different surgical procedures on allergic fungal sinusitis. Methods: Thirty-one patients with allergic fungal sinusitis under endoscopic sinus surgery(24 cases) and Caldwell-Luc operation(7 cases) after medical treatment were investigated. Results: No complication was observed during one year's follow-up. No patient who conducted endoscopic sinus surgery reacurred and 3 patients who received traditional surgery required a second operation. Conclusion: This confirmed endoscopic sinus surgery provided a mini-traumatic and effective treatment. Combined treatment of surgical and medical ways was useful to the development of allergic fungal sinusitis.

Invasive Fungal Sinusitis in Immunocompromised Patients: A Multicenter, University Hospital Experience in Shiraz

Objective: It is to determine the causes of invasive fungal sinusitis in patients of Shiraz University hospitals, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 18 months (from 21 March 2009 till 22 September 2010) in three Shiraz University Hospitals. Thirty-six patients with sings of invasive fungal sinusitis were enrolled, and tissue samples were investigated for histopathology, culture and antifungal susceptibility test. The laboratory results with host factor and sinus computed tomography scan were evaluated for classification of patients as proven, probable and possible invasive fungal sinusitis. Results: Thirty-five patients have involved with at least one risk factor (immune compromised disease, diabetes mellitus, or use of immune suppressed drugs). Radiological findings of parasinus invasion or necrosis were present in 20 patients. By histopathology, 21 patients were considered as proven, from these, 17 samples had positive growth. The culture aetiology agents were 4 Candida, 8 Aspergillus, and 5 Mucor. All positive culture samples were matched with histopathology findings. Significant associations were considered for radiologic finding and histopathology and culture (p 0.05). From 8 patients with mucormycosis histopathology, 6 suffered from diabetes mellitus. None of the antifungal agents were effective on these three types of infections. Conclusion: DM is the most common predisposing factor for IFS followed by ALL and AML. The most common aetiology of IFS was found to be Aspergillus fumigant followed by Mucormycosis and Candida. None of antifungal agents could successfully cover all the species.