title: The role of ostiomeatal complex obstruction in maxillary fungus ball.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to clarify the role of ostiomeatal complex obstruction in maxillary fungus ball.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study in a hospital setting of the mean Lund-Mackay scores for the anterior ethmoid and frontal sinuses of 54 versus 48 patients with maxillary fungus ball versus chronic unilateral rhinosinusitis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cases with partial opacification in the maxillary sinus, the anterior ethmoid and frontal sinuses were diseased in the chronic unilateral rhinosinusitis group but not in the maxillary fungus ball group. In cases with total opacification in the maxillary sinuses, all anterior ethmoid and frontal sinuses in both groups were diseased, but the disease condition of the frontal sinuses was significantly less severe in the maxillary fungus ball group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this era of evidence-based medicine, we provide statistical data supporting the principle that maxillary fungus ball is not associated with osteomeatal complex obstruction and that another as-yet-unexplained mechanism must be responsible.
  
  
  METHODS
  B-3b.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, #201 Section 2 Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan 112, ROC. tltsai@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Tung-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yuan-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ching-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ching-Zong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods