Influence of different levels of skin pricking test on the short-term efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

To explore the effect of different levels of skin pricking test on short-term efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy with allergic rhinitis.Thirty-one AR patients were included in our study.All the patients had received subcutaneous immunotherapy for 1 year.According to the levels of SPT the patients were divided into 3 groups(grade 2,10 persons;grade 3,10 persons and grade 4,11 persons).Of all the patients,the nasal symptoms visual analogue scale(VAS)score,medication score and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire(RQLQ)were investigated both before and after receiving 1 year subcutaneous immunotherapy.The total effective rate of VAS score,RQLQ score and medication score was 61.30%,58.06% and 64.52% respectively,but there was no statistical difference among the 3 groups after 1 year subcutaneous immunotherapy(P=0.573,0.136,0.699,>0.05).This study confirms the short efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in AR patients with different levels of SPT.But the level of SPT was not an objective index for shortterm efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy of AR.

Anatomy, classification of intersinus septal cell and its clinical significance in frontal sinus endoscopic surgery in Chinese subjects / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Intersinus septal cell (ISSC) is not a very uncommon frontal recess cell. But it is poorly described in literature. The clinical significance of this anatomic variant still remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the anatomy, classification of ISSC and its clinical significance in Chinese subjects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We prospectively identified ISSC in 200 consecutive subjects who had undergone computed tomography (CT) scans: 120 without frontal sinusitis (group 1) and 80 with frontal sinusitis (group 2). The ISSC was classified into two types: Type I ISSC communicated with frontal sinuses, type II ISSC communicated with frontal recess. The patients of frontal sinusitis had undergone functional endoscopic sinus surgery with the assistance of the classification of ISSC. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate the ISSC and its type to the presence of frontal sinusitis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ISSC was obvious when reviewing the coronal and axial CT scans. Of the 200 CT scans reviewed, ISSC were present in 90 (45%). Of the 120 scans in group 1, ISSC were present in 49 (41%), among which type I ISSC was in 22 (18%) and type II was in 27 (23%). Of the 80 scans in group 2, ISSC was present in 41 (51%), among which type I ISSC was in 16 (20%) and type II was in 25 (31%). There were no statistically significant differences about the frequency distribution of total ISSC, type I and II ISSC between group 1 and group 2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of ISSC was very high in Chinese patients. The classification of ISSC was helpful for surgeon to operate according to whether it communicated with frontal sinus or frontal recess. The type II ISSC could be relatively easily removed from frontal recess.</p>

Diagnosis and endoscopic treatment of sphenoid mycetoma / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the presenting symptoms and signs, endoscopic findings, imaging changes and the clinical outcomes of endoscopic surgery in 23 patients with sphenoid mycetoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data and the follow-up results of endoscopic surgery in 23 patients with sphenoid mycetoma, between April 2001 and January 2006, were retrospectively analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study population included 15 women and 8 men with a median age of 52.7 years. Presenting symptoms included headache (13 cases, 57%) and bloody discharge (9 cases, 48%). The computed tomography scans showed high density shadow in all 23 cases, with 17 cases (74%) had plaque or cord shaped calcification. All patients were treated by endoscopic transnasal approach. No surgical complications were found. Follow-up ranged 3-18 months, all symptoms disappeared, except strabismus in one case after 7 months of operation. The mucosa in surgical cavity is good.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The most common clinical symptoms of sphenoid mycetoma are headache and bloody discharge. Computed tomography scan has great value for the diagnosis of sphenoid mycetoma. The minimal invasion and the good outcome are the main advantages of the endoscopic surgery.</p>