ABSTRACT
The etiological role of the osteo-meatal complex [OMC] in the pathogenesis of sinus disease is a debatable issue. The charts of 143 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1992 and 1995 were reviewed. Clinical symptoms included facial pain, nasal obstruction, headache, and postnasal drip. CT scan and endoscopic findings were reviewed. The presence of OMC disease radiologically was correlated with all the clinical, nasal endoscopic and other radiologic findings [disease in the rest of paranasal sinuses, or presence of concha bullosa]. Its etiological role in patients with sinusitis is discussed.No endoscopic findings could be statistically correlated with the OMC disease. Facial pain and postnasal drip were the only clinical symptoms that statistically correlated with the OMC disease lip-value = 0.009 and 0.008, respectively]. The OMC disease correlated with the radiological evidence of sinusitis in any of the sinuses