Correlation between SN-5 and computed tomography in children with chronic rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
Symptom score questionnaires for evaluation of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in adults does not correlate with computed tomography (CT) scan scores of paranasal sinuses. The SN-5 is a validated symptom score questionnaire for the evaluation of CRS in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the SN-5 with the CT score in children.


METHODS
Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.


METHODS
Thirty-two children between the ages of 2 years and 12 years were seen prospectively for symptoms of CRS. The mean age was 7.7 years (range, 3.6-11.5; SD = 2.4). The caretakers completed the SN-5 during their visit when a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses was obtained.


RESULTS
The mean SN-5 score was 4.1 (SD = 1.03) and the mean Lund-Mackay CT score was 6.8 (SD = 4.3). There was a significant correlation between the SN-5 score and Lund-MacKay CT score (rho = 0.68; P < .0001) for all children in the study. Twelve (38%) children had asthma, and for those children the correlation was poorer and did not reach statistical significance (rho = 0 .57; P = .057). For nonasthmatics the correlation was stronger (rho = 0.73; P = .0003).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptom score questionnaire (SN-5) correlated to the disease severity as measured by the Lund-MacKay CT scan score. This is different from what has been found in adults. These findings have positive implications for the follow-up of treatment of CRS in children because the frequent use of CT scans in children is discouraged due to concern for radiation exposure.
Department of Otolaryngology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9200, USA.
Andrew M
AM
Terrell
Hassan H
HH
Ramadan
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*