Role of computerized tomography [CT] and nasal endoscopy in evaluation of chronic paranasal sinus [PNS] diseases

ABSTRACT

This prospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of structural anatomic variations and mucosal abnormalities of paranasal sinus [PNS] in patients with chronic sinusitis by using nasal endoscopy and CT scan comparatively. Thirty patients having chronic sinusitis were randomly selected in the period between October 1997 to January 1998. Every patient was subjected to clinical examination, endonasal endoscopic study and CT scan [control and axial images]. Five out of sixty nasal cavities [30 patients] could not be examined endoscopically due to severe nasal polyposis or severe septal deviation. The predominant pathological findings seen by endoscopy were middle meatal discharge [34.5%] and enlarged bulla ethmoidalis [32.7%]. Using CT examination, the mucosal abnormalities of the maxillary sinus were the most prevalent findings [90%], followed by the anterior ethmoid [70%]. Polypoidal mucosa was found in [63.2%] of maxillary sinuses, while minimal mucosal thickening in [60%] of maxillary and posterior ethmoidal sinuses. Agger nasi, Haller's cells and Concha bullosa could not be detected by endoscopy, while visualized clearly by CT scan in [96.7%], [16.7%] and [23.3%] of nasal cavities, respectively