Prospective analysis of sinus symptoms and correlation with paranasal computed tomography scan.
OBJECTIVE
We designed a prospective study to determine whether there is a correlation between the severity of sinus symptoms and the severity of computed tomography (CT) scan evidence of rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
Acute and chronic rhinosinusitis patients rated their symptoms and had a CT scan of the sinuses taken the same day. A Likert severity scale and standardized CT scoring system were used. Data were analyzed by nonparametric methods with Kendall's rank correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
The severity of 5 symptoms correlated with severity of disease on CT scan. Headache and facial pain or pressure had no correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
The certainty of a clinical diagnosis of rhinosinusitis requiring treatment is enhanced in patients with high symptom severity scores for fatigue, sleep disturbance, nasal discharge, nasal blockage, or decreased sense of smell. Isolated headache and facial pain or pressure are less reliable predictors of CT scan findings supporting the diagnosis rhinosinusitis.
Kenny
T J
TJ
Department of Otolaryngology, The Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2559, USA. thomas.kenny@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Duncavage
J
J
Bracikowski
J
J
Yildirim
A
A
Murray
J J
JJ
Tanner
S B
SB
D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed