ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric rhinosinusitis continues to be a challenging problem to otolaryngologists. This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis and the treatment outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in children. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty eight patients (13 women and 35 men with an age range of 7 to 17 years) were available for analysis by medical records and questionnaire. We classified the patients into three groups: 25 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSNP), 11 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRS), 12 cases of antrochoanal polyps (ACP). Objective outcome of ESS was evaluated through endoscopic examination and subjective outcome through questionnaire. Postoperative follow-up period ranged between 6 and 26 months. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated with ESS and nine with ESS with concomitant adenoidectomy. Thirty-nine patients (81.2%) showed good outcomes by endoscopic examination. Also, thirty-eight patients (79.2%) reported high satisfaction by questionnaire. There were no statistical differences in the results through endoscopy and subjective satisfaction through questionnaire among three groups. CRSNP and ACP groups tended to have higher recurrence rate than CRS group. CRSNP group showed higher CT Lund-Mackay scores than ACP group and CRS group. Synechia occurred in 4 (8.3%) of 48 patients. Ten patients (20.8%) required endoscopic polypectomy or revision surgery. CONCLUSION: While pediatric ESS is still in progress and its role continues to be defined, the results of current study suggest that pediatric ESS is a safe and efficacious therapy for management of chronic rhinosinusitis in children.