title: Chronic rhinosinusitis in ex-lepromatous leprosy patients with atrophic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhino-sinus mucosal involvement is well documented in untreated lepromatous leprosy, but less understood in ex-leprosy patients (i.e. leprosy patients who have been treated and cured) with atrophic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rhino-sinus abnormalities were investigated in 13 ex-lepromatous leprosy patients with atrophic rhinitis, using interviews enquiring about sinonasal symptoms, nasal endoscopy, nasal swab culture and computed tomography. Endoscopic sinus surgery had been performed in three patients. The clinical course, computed tomography findings and nasal biopsy results of these three patients were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had turbinate atrophy and 6 of the 13 (46.2 per cent) had septal perforation. Paranasal sinus involvement was noted in 9 of 12 examined patients (75 per cent). The most commonly affected sinus was the maxillary sinus (in 8 of 12; 66.7 per cent). All three patients treated by endoscopic sinus surgery experienced relapse and required further surgery. Maxillary sinus irrigation was effective for reduction of persistent symptoms such as postnasal discharge and crusts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ex-lepromatous leprosy patients with atrophic rhinitis had various rhino-sinus abnormalities and persistent symptoms. These patients had chronic rhinosinusitis because of underlying atrophic rhinitis. These patients required repeated otolaryngological observations together with combined surgery and conservative treatment.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. j_suzuki1212@hotmail.com
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Suzuki
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Oshima
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Watanabe
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Suzuki
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kobayashi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055556:Nasal Lavage; D012008:Recurrence; D012222:Rhinitis, Atrophic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed