Comparative Evaluation of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients by Conventional Radiography, Computed Tomography and Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy (DNE)

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common condition in medical practice. It is defined as inflammation of the mucosa of nose and paranasal sinuses, the fluids within these cavities, and/or the underlying bone that has been present with or without treatment for at least 12 weeks duration. In 1997, a detailed definition of the syndrome was developed by the Rhinosinusitis Task Force of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, consisting of the major and minor diagnostic criterias. To study the role of conventional radiography, nasal endoscopy and computed tomography in the early diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. The study was carried out in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences. A total of 100 patients with clinical evidence of sinonasal diseases were evaluated with conventional radiography, Nasal endoscopy and computed tomographic evaluation. Out of 100 patients; 58 were male and 42 were female. M:F ratio = 1.38:1. Majority of the patients were being in the age group of 21-30 years (30 %). The most common finding on conventional radiography was opacification of maxillary sinus (42 %) followed mucosal thickening (26 %), haziness of the maxillary sinus (19 %) followed by air-fluid level (13 %). Five basic radiological patterns of sinonasal inflammatory disease are identified among 100 patients. These were (1) Infundibular 16 %, (2) Ostiomeatal unit 32 %, (3) Sphenoethmoidal 8 %, (4) Sinonasal polyposis 28 %, (5) Unclassified 16 %. The sensitivity and specificity of plain film radiography for detecting sinus opacifications was unacceptably low for paranasal sinuses, hence conventional radiography should not be used as a single diagnostic tool in preoperative evaluation. Nasal endoscopy having sensitivity and specificity almost as good as CT scanning, and being an outpatient procedure may reduce unnecessary diagnostic CT scanning procedures. It allows an unparalleled vision with brilliant illumination of nose and paranasal sinuses. Endoscopic directed procedures have high accuracy due to vision controlled and incomparable guidance in treatment of nasal and nasopharyngeal pathologies. CT scan can be reserved as second level investigation for the subgroup of patients with negative endoscopy who remain symptomatic on follow up.