Normalization of maxillary sinus mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in pediatric chronic sinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the recovery of maxillary sinus mucosa after endoscopic sinus surgery in children with chronic maxillary sinusitis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) was used to perform a middle meatal antrostomy, leaving the antral mucosa intact for later observation.


METHODS
Between January 1998 and December 2003, 43 children with chronic sinusitis were enrolled in the study. Pre-operative patient profiles, including a history of symptoms, signs and allergies, were collected. Phidiatap test was used to check allergy. Saccharine transit time tests were performed for each side of the nasal cavity. Under endoscopic observation, the antral mucosa was macroscopically divided into edematous and polypoid types.


RESULTS
Sixty-four (76.2%) of the 84 antrums had edematous type mucosa in which 73.4% (48/64) of cases were found to have returned to normal within 8 weeks. The polypoid antral mucosa exhibited a slower recovery with 80% (16/20) returning to normal within 4 months. The preoperative saccharine transit time significantly correlated with recovery of the antral mucosa (p < 0.05), but allergy did not (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The antral mucosa in children with chronic maxillary sinusitis was predominantly of the edematous type. Most recovered within 2 months of having FESS. The prolonged saccharine transit time and polypoid type antral mucosa were associated with delayed mucosal recovery, warranting follow-up of more than 4 months.
Huang
Hung-Meng
HM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Municipal Women and Children Hospital, 12 Fu Chou Street, Taipei, Taiwan. hmengh@yahoo.com.tw
Lee
Hey-Ping
HP
Liu
Chia-Ming
CM
Lin
Kai-Nan
KN
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*