title: Diagnosis and follow-up of ultrasonographical sinus changes in children.
abstract: Retained secretion within the maxillary sinus was diagnosed by ultrasonography in 86 (19%) of 452 children (4-10 years) who entered Turku University ENT-clinic for adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Occipitomental radiographs showed signs of sinusitis in 168 (37%) of the children. All 86 children with secretion in one or both maxillary sinuses were operated on and treated with amoxicillin and a nasal decongestant. Fifty children (72 sinuses) were treated with antral lavage and 36 children (49 sinuses) were treated conservatively. After 10 days ultrasonography revealed no secretion in 86% of the irrigated sinuses and in 74% of the sinuses treated without irrigation. After 30 days all the irrigated sinuses were healed but in 5 (10%) of the sinuses treated without irrigation ultrasonography still revealed retained secretion. The difference was statistically significant. The disappearance of the radiographic sinus changes was considerably slower. As a non-ionizing method ultrasonography was found to be especially practical in the follow-up of treatment results. It seems that the disappearance of ultrasonic signs of sinusitis correlates better with the clinical resolving of sinusitis in childhood than the disappearance of radiographic signs of sinusitis.
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D000658:Amoxicillin