Radiological sinonasal findings in adults with cystic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Care of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has extended the expected survival far into adulthood. The morphological changes of adult CF patients' paranasal sinuses have not been thoroughly addressed.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed of computed tomography imaging of adult CF patients at an academic medical center. Developmental changes, bone sclerosis, mucoceles, and degree of inflammation (using a modified Lund-Mackay scoring system) were assessed.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients were included in the study. The majority of frontal and sphenoid sinuses were either aplastic or hypoplastic. Maxillary hypoplasia was less commonly seen. Seven patients had mucoceles. Sclerosis of the sinuses was a common finding, affecting 84.4% of patients. Inflammation of the sinuses was also common, with a median modified Lund-Mackay score of 15.0 (out of a median 20 possible).


CONCLUSIONS
Poor development of the sinuses seen in pediatric CF patients persists into adulthood. Inflammation of the sinuses is a common finding. Bone sclerosis, likely caused by chronic inflammation, affects a large majority of these patients.
Orlandi
Richard R
RR
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. richard.orlandi@hsc.utah.edu
Wiggins
Richard H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012598:Sclerosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed