Clinical consensus statement: appropriate use of computed tomography for paranasal sinus disease.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a consensus statement on the appropriate use of computed tomography (CT) for paranasal sinus disease.


METHODS
A modified Delphi method was used to refine expert opinion and reach consensus by the panel.


RESULTS
After 3 full Delphi rounds, 33 items reached consensus and 16 statements were dropped because of not reaching consensus or redundancy. The statements that reached consensus were grouped into 4 categories: pediatric sinusitis, medical management, surgical planning, and complication of sinusitis or sinonasal tumor. The panel unanimously agreed with 13 of the 33 statements. In addition, at least 75% of the panel strongly agreed with 14 of 33 statements across all of the categories.


CONCLUSIONS
For children, careful consideration should be taken when performing CT imaging but is needed in the setting of treatment failures and complications, either of the pathological process itself or as a result of iatrogenic (surgical) complications. For adults, imaging is necessary in surgical planning, for treatment of medical and surgical complications, and in all aspects of the complete management of patients with sinonasal and skull base pathology.
Albany ENT & Allergy Services, Albany, NY, USA. gavinsetzenmd@albanyentandallergy.com
Gavin
G
Setzen
Berrylin J
BJ
Ferguson
Joseph K
JK
Han
John S
JS
Rhee
Rebecca S
RS
Cornelius
Stuart J
SJ
Froum
Grant S
GS
Gillman
Steven M
SM
Houser
Paul R
PR
Krakovitz
Ashkan
A
Monfared
James N
JN
Palmer
Kristina W
KW
Rosbe
Michael
M
Setzen
Milesh M
MM
Patel
D006801:Humans; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*