title: Non-invasive diagnostics of the maxillary and frontal sinuses based on diode laser gas spectroscopy.
abstract: Suspected, but objectively absent, rhinosinusitis constitutes a major cause of visits to the doctor, high health care costs, and the over-prescription of antibiotics, contributing to the serious problem of resistant bacteria. This situation is largely due to a lack of reliable and widely applicable diagnostic methods.
  
  
  
  A novel method for the diagnosis of rhinosinusitis based on non-intrusive diode laser gas spectroscopy is presented. The technique is based on light absorption by free gas (oxygen and water vapour) inside the sinuses, and has the potential to be a complementary diagnostic tool in primary health care. The method was evaluated on 40 patients with suspected sinus problems, referred to the diagnostic radiology clinic for low-dose computed tomography (CT), which was used as the reference technique.
  
  
  
  The data obtained with the new laser-based method correlated well with the grading of opacification and ventilation using CT. The sensitivity and specificity were estimated to be 93% and 61%, respectively, for the maxillary sinuses, and 94% and 86%, respectively, for the frontal sinuses. Good reproducibility was shown.
  
  
  
  The laser-based technique presents real-time clinical data that correlate well to CT findings, while being non-intrusive and avoiding the use of ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Atomic Physics, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewander
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siemund
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svanberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svanberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015522:Frontal Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult