title: Chronic rhinosinusitis:  observation or treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several treatment options have been proposed for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Our purpose is to present a protocol/tool to treat patient symptoms, which is initially independent of assessment for presence of CRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This protocol is called the Rational Patient Experiment (RPE), and its concept is largely based on the fact that CRS is overrepresented in incidence based on surveys, because symptoms of CRS are nonspecific and overlap multiple other disorders. Patients whose symptoms persist, despite the RPE, require further objective assessment of CRS with endoscopy and computed tomography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review outlines the RPE and the evidence base for observation versus treatment with saline washes, steroids, or antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklio, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prokopakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlastos
authors.forename: Harshita
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: Berrylin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents