Is there a correlation between radiographic and histologic findings in chronic sinusitis?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the degree of radiologic changes noted on computed tomography (CT) scan correlate with the severity of histologic changes.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Academic tertiary care centre.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis, with complete data obtained for 131 sinuses.


METHODS
Paranasal sinus CT scans and pathologic reports were examined. Respective findings were graded as mild, moderate, or severe, and the results were analyzed for agreement. CT scan grading was based on the extent of sinus opacification and pathologic grading was determined by the number of inflammatory cells found in the sinus mucosa.


RESULTS
Of the 51 ethmoid sinuses, agreement between the radiographic and histologic grading occurred in 32 or 62.7%. In the maxillary group, a 57.1% (24 of 42) correlation was noted. Of the 20 frontal sinuses, agreement occurred in 8 or 40%, whereas a 22.2% (4 of 18) correlation was present in the sphenoid group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the severity of sinus disease based on preoperative CT scan does not correlate with the histologic degree of disease.
Cousin
J N
JN
Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA.
Har-El
G
G
Li
J
J
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015521:Ethmoid Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015522:Frontal Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015524:Sphenoid Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery