A new score for tomographic opacification of paranasal sinuses in children.
Many score methods have been created to measure paranasal sinus abnormalities seen under CT scan. Currently, the Lund-Mackay staging system is widely accepted. However, its results may be affected by the development in children.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the precision and accuracy of a new tomography score, called "opacification-development ratio". It translates the percentage of sinus area that is opaque.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was prospectively conducted in patients ranging from 0-18 years of age who underwent CT scan assessment of rhinosinusitis. Two independent radiologists examined each scan twice, using both the Lund system and the ratio herein proposed.


RESULTS
The opacification-development ratio reached substantial intra and inter-examiner agreement, similar to the Lund system (Kappa > 0.60). Considering the Lund system as the gold standard, the most accurate cut-off point was approximately 15 (sensitivity and specificity approach 90%). There was a strong linear correlation between the two methods (r > 90).


CONCLUSIONS
opacification-development ratio is precise and correlates with the Lund system. A cut-off point set at 15 could be used to call a test positive.
Araújo Neto
Severino Aires de
SA
Image Diagnosis Module of the Paraiba Medical School.
Baracat
Emílio Carlos Elias
EC
Felipe
Leonardo Franco
LF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed