Recent Trends of Prevalence in Unilateral Sinusitis and Useful Factors in Differential Diagnosis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unilateral sinus lesions can be caused by many diseases and exact preoperative diagnosis is often difficult to make. The aims of this study were to evaluate the recent trends for prevalence of unilateral sinus lesions and find useful factors in differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Preoperative clinical diagnosis including computed tomography (CT) images, endoscopic findings and postoperative diagnosis based on pathology were assessed retrospectively in 384 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral sinus surgery from 2004 to 2013. RESULTS: Chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis (40%) was the most common cause of unilateral sinus lesions, followed by fungal sinusitis (21%), benign and malignant tumors (14%), and odontogenic sinusitis (11%). The incidence of odontogenic sinusitis has recently increased and mismatches of pre- and post-operative diagnosis were commonly found among patients with chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis, fungal sinusitis, or odontogenic sinusitis. Microcalcification in fungal sinusitis and dental lesions in odontogenic sinusitis were confirmed as critical factors by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of odontogenic sinusitis has been increasing steadily over the last 10 years. The findings of microcalcification and dental lesions on CT could provide crucial information to make a precise preoperative diagnosis among chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis, fungal sinusitis and odontogenic sinusitis.