title: The clinical behavior of isolated sphenoid sinusitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to study the clinical behavior and treatment outcome of isolated sphenoid sinusitis (ISS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with ISS in a tertiary medical center over 20 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 72 patients with ISS, 79 percent had acute symptoms, 15 percent had chronic symptoms, and 6 percent had incidental radiological findings. Fifteen percent were children. Most patients were diagnosed between January and April (P < 0.01), and increasing incidence was noted over the years (P < 0.001). Headache was the most common presenting symptom (85%). Chronic patients complained also of nasal symptoms (82%). Six patients had a major complication of sinusitis (none of them were children), and two patients died. Immunocompromised patients had more major complications (P <or= 0.001) and increased mortality (P <or= 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients need conservative treatment alone. However, life-threatening complications are not infrequent. Close observation and early surgical intervention, if needed, provide the mainstay of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first large series that focuses on the clinical behavior, complications, and treatment of ISS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. drorgil@zahav.net.il
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilony
authors.forename: Yoav P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Talmi
authors.forename: Lev
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bedrin
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Shosan
authors.forename: Jona
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kronenberg
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015524:Sphenoid Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy